Iran-Russia energy deals no threat to nuclear talks
The priority for Tehran is a comprehensive nuclear agreement with the P5+1 countries, which includes Russia.
Israel and the United States do not have much cause for concern about reports of two multibillion dollar deals being negotiated between Iran and Russia.
Neither deal is likely to increase Iran's leverage so it could ignore the nuclear negotiations. Nor is it likely that the deals will boost Iran's leverage at the talks. In other words, Iran will most likely have to make the same compromises that it would have made before the negotiations over such deals were announced.
A closer look at both deals shows us why.
The first deal being negotiated is believed to be a $1.5 billion per month barter deal. As part of the deal, Iran would supply Russia with 500,000 barrels of oil per day. Instead of receiving cash for its highly valued oil ($100 per barrel), Iran would receive Russian goods. The total value of this deal is believed to be $20 billion.
