Iran, Russia Eager to Cooperate on Mining Sector
(FNA)- Iranian and Russian ministers said in a meeting on Monday that expansion of Tehran-Moscow cooperation in the mining sector will be very fruitful for both countries.
In a meeting between Iranian Minister of Industries, Mines and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh and Russian Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Sergey Donskoy, the Iranian official said Russia is capable in geological and mining studies and this can serve as an important factor for enhancement of bilateral interactions.
He further added that Iran has a plan to develop its mines and welcomes cooperation with other countries, especially Russia, adding that the two countries have had mutual cooperation background in this field.
The Iranian minister referred to some primary agreements reached between Russia and IMIDRO (Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation) to cooperate on exploration and development of Zarshouran Mine (gold mine in West Azarbaijan), Angouran (lead and zinc in Zanjan) and Sangan (iron ore in Khorassan Razavi).
Nematzadeh pointed to joint studies which have been conducted with neighboring and African countries by his ministry and said the parties to the joint surveys have been Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and a number of African countries.
Donskoy, for his part, voiced Moscow's willingness for deepening trade, industrial and mining relations with Iran, and expressed the hope that cooperation would be expanded particularly in geology and underground resources.
He pointed to the mineral and natural resources capacity as one of the advantages of Iran and said it is expected that through joint cooperation in the field of location and exploitation of mineral reserves expansion of interactions would be realized.
Over the last several years, Iran and Russia have had vast cooperation in different fields, specially in political and economic spheres.
The two states also enjoy special positions on the international scene and have long had constant and regular consultations on key regional and global issues.