Iran: Greece agrees to pay $800 million debt
Greece owes Iran $800 million in an outstanding debt for the oil which it has bought before 2012, Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh says.
Zangeneh discussed on Monday payment of the debt with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias who is visiting Iran at the head of a business delegation to explore potentials for fresh trade.
The two sides agreed to reach a decision on the payment by Greece’s biggest oil refiner Hellenic Petroleum “in the next few months”, Ministry of Petroleum’s Shana news agency quoted Zangeneh as saying.
“In our meeting, the issue was discussed and it was decided that intensive negotiations continue for repayment of this company’s debt which is related to the period before sanctions were imposed,” he added.
Athens and Tehran are set to settle the debt issue before Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visits Tehran in the next few months, Zangeneh said.
“It was decided that the debt issue is resolved before the Greek prime minister’s visit to Tehran so that it doesn’t create a negative point in the two countries’ ties.”
Annual transactions between Athens and Tehran stood at $1.8 billion before intensified Western sanctions reduced them to a trickle, put around $24 million at present.
In 2011, Greece relied on Iran for more than half of its oil imports during some months after international traders and oil majors halted supplies and banks refused to provide financing for fear that Athens would default on its debts.
Hellenic Petroleum has welcomed Iran’s return to the oil market as “positive for refiners”. Zangeneh said the company must clear its dues to Iran for possible resumption of trade after sanctions are lifted against Tehran.
He said cooperation with Greece in other energy sectors is also tied to the settlement of the debt, “expressing hope that the problem will be resolved as soon as possible”, Shana said.
The minister also said an Iranian private oil and gas contractor, Tadbir Energy Development Group, is interested in buying a stake in a Greek oil refinery, without giving further details.
“If an agreement is reached, Ministry of Petroleum will support it,” Zangeneh said.
Iran to open 6 GW of new power capacity by next summer
Iran rushing to supply more fuel to power plants amid cold spell
Iran declares holidays to curb energy demand
US fighter aircraft shot down ‘in friendly fire’ amid aggression on Yemen
Yemeni FM: Israel’s sponsors accountable for ongoing aggression on Sana’a
Eight Palestinians killed as Israel attacks Gaza school, hospitals
VIDEO | Rome, Milan host new protests in solidarity with Palestinians
Dec. 21: ‘Axis of Resistance’ operations against Israeli occupation
Spain jurists demand ties with Israel ties be cut
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
VIDEO | Iran honors top Science Olympiad medalists
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
