Iran and Russia are natural energy partners as both countries work to advance their objectives under sanctions pressure, a Gazprom official said in Tehran.
Sergei Lasutenko, a representative from Russian energy company Gazprom, was in Tehran to attend an international energy exhibition. Iran said it expects foreign investors to flock to the country as sanctions pressures ease, though the Gazprom delegate said Iranian and Russian ties are aligned in part because of Western economic measures.
"Russia is sanctioned too, so we have some joint interests to discuss," he said. "I look over the Iranian market and we know Iran has great experiences in working in these sanctions conditions."
Iran is limited to about 1 million barrels of oil exports under a sanctions regime enacted in response to nuclear concerns. Russia's energy sector, for its part, has been sanctioned since the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine in March 2014.
Both governments have been forced to deal with the economic consequences of sanctions. Russia's situation is far worse, however, as the Iranian economy recovers from recession.
Iranian officials said from the conference there is "no need for foreign companies" to help with the advancement of domestic oil projects.
Iranian oil production of 2.7 million barrels per day has remained relatively steady since 2013.
Iranian officials this week said they expected representatives from U.S. energy companies to attend the energy conference.
Asked about the announcement during a regular press briefing this week, U.S. State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said sanctions are still in place on Iran.
"We don't consider Iran to be open for business yet," he said.
