Russia can’t decide if it’s made an oil deal with Iran or not
Russia announced it had agreed a five-year deal with Iran to help export oil from the Middle Eastern country earlier today, only for Russian energy minister Alexander Novak to later withdraw his statement about the agreement.
Novak had said: "Based on Iran's proposal, we will participate in arranging shipments of crude oil, including to the Russian market," upon signing the deal with his Iranian counterpart Bijan Zanganeh, and that the deal did not violate international obligations.
The deal talks have been ongoing for months, Reuters reports, and would allow both countries to sidestep Western sanctions which have increased against Russia in recent weeks- if it has in fact been agreed.
Shortly after making the announcement Russia’s energy ministry withdrew it, giving no reason and saying a new statement would be issued on Wednesday.