Russian-Iranian commodity turnover reaches $4.6 bln in 2022 - Duma's Volodin

TEHRAN. Jan 23 (Interfax) - Russian-Iranian commodity turnover last year increased by 15% to $4.6 billion, Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said at the third session of the commission on parliamentary cooperation between the State Duma and the Iranian parliament.

Cooperation between the two countries embraces practically all spheres, he said.

"In conditions of sanctions pressure on our countries, it is extremely important to increase economic potential. In 2022, the commodity turnover between the countries increased by almost 15% to $4.6 billion," Volodin said on Monday.

Joint large-scale infrastructure projects and expansion of interaction between the Eurasian Economic Union and Iran appear to hold big potential, he said. "We are talking about the plans to sign a platform agreement on a free trade zone to replace the temporary agreement. This is especially topical in the context of the implementation by our countries of a project to create the North-South international transport corridor," Volodin said.

Volodin also said "the work on a new basic interstate treaty and some relevant agreements that envisage the development of cooperation, including in spheres such as trade, transport, logistics, energy, agriculture, banking, investment and customs regulation is nearing completion." "This is really unprecedented in our relations as they embrace practically all spheres," he said.

A State Duma delegation led by Volodin is paying an official visit to Iran. Volodin and State Duma members earlier had a meeting with their colleagues from the Islamic Consultative Assembly and its Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.