• Sergei Lavrov is to visit Iran to discuss how to improve trade and energy ties between the two countries.
• Both are dealing with economic sanctions from the West, and both have enormous oil and gas reserves.
• Russia’s economy was hit with sanctions after its invasion of Ukraine, while Iran has suffered under US sanctions.

TEHRAN: Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, was set to go to Iran on Wednesday to talk about how to improve trade and energy ties between the two countries, which are both dealing with economic sanctions from the West.

Both Tehran and Moscow have enormous oil and gas reserves, but restrictions limit their ability to export their produce.

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The Russian economy was slammed with sanctions after its February invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, while Iran’s economy has been withering under severe sanctions reimposed by the United States in 2018, following Washington’s exit from a nuclear agreement between Tehran and key nations.

Russia played a crucial role in this accord, assuming responsibility for Iran’s excess enriched uranium stores in excess of those permitted by the pact.

It has participated in stuttering negotiations between Iran and the powers to revive the 2015 agreement, with the United States’ participation renewed.

Since March, the talks have been stuck because Tehran and Washington have very different ideas about the US sanctions that would be eased in exchange for Iran’s full compliance with the agreed-upon limits on its nuclear activities.

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Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak sent a strong group to Tehran at the end of May after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove up global oil and gas prices.