Iran Aims to Boost Economic Ties with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Ambassador to the Kingdom Alireza Enayati and President of the Federation of Saudi Chambers Hassan Al-Huwaizi meet on Tuesday. (SPA)
Iranian Ambassador to the Kingdom Alireza Enayati and President of the Federation of Saudi Chambers Hassan Al-Huwaizi meet on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Iran Aims to Boost Economic Ties with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Ambassador to the Kingdom Alireza Enayati and President of the Federation of Saudi Chambers Hassan Al-Huwaizi meet on Tuesday. (SPA)
Iranian Ambassador to the Kingdom Alireza Enayati and President of the Federation of Saudi Chambers Hassan Al-Huwaizi meet on Tuesday. (SPA)

Iranian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Alireza Enayati emphasized his country’s commitment to bolstering economic relations with the Kingdom, to revitalize trade and investment relations.

He made the remarks during a meeting with President of the Federation of Saudi Chambers Hassan Al-Huwaizi.

The Saudi Press Agency noted “the absence of trade exchanges between the two countries, despite the significant scale of their foreign trade.”

Saudi Arabia achieved foreign trade exceeding $601 billion in 2022, while Iran’s volume reached nearly $133 billion.

The officials placed considerable importance on seizing the current positive momentum and expeditiously implementing signed agreements, paving the way for a new phase in economic cooperation and to elevate the level of trade exchange given the existing opportunities.

The meeting resulted in a joint understanding to facilitate the re-exchange of trade delegations, promote trade exchanges, and elevate integration in targeted sectors. Additionally, it focused on capitalizing on substantial consumer markets and actively encouraging successful partnerships between business sectors.

The officials encouraged investors in their countries to capitalize on the opportunities and advantages of foreign investment.



Türkiye Receives Waiver for Gas Payments to Russia from Gazprombank Sanctions

A view shows a board with the logo of Gazprombank at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo
A view shows a board with the logo of Gazprombank at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo
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Türkiye Receives Waiver for Gas Payments to Russia from Gazprombank Sanctions

A view shows a board with the logo of Gazprombank at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo
A view shows a board with the logo of Gazprombank at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo

Türkiye has received an exemption for gas payments to Russia after the United States imposed sanctions on Gazprombank, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar revealed in response to a question from Reuters.

The US imposed new sanctions on Russia's Gazprombank in November, creating an obstacle for buyers of Russian gas, which had been using the bank to make payments. They have since been seeking clarification and exploring other ways to pay.

Türkiye imports almost all its gas requirement and Russia is the top supplier, providing more than 50% of the country's pipeline imports.

Ankara's pipeline gas imports from Russia stood at 21.1 bcm last year.

Türkiye had requested an exemption in discussions with US officials so that it can continue paying for Russian natural gas imports via Gazprombank.

The US on Thursday also granted a waiver to Hungary, which mainly relies on Russian oil and gas.