Russia

In a company brochure, STG lists Iran as among those countries where “it has implemented [its] largest infrastructure projects.” 

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“Russian company STG has signed a contract with Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation company, known as IMIDRO, to produce alumina from Nepheline syenite, Iran's IRNA news agency quoted IMIDRO director Mehdi Karbasian as saying on April 7. Nepheline syenite is used in glass making, ceramics and in pigments and fillers. STG will handle the production and at a later stage transfer the project to the Iranian side, which refused to give the project to any other specialists. ‘Based on the contract, the Russian company will implement the project in 3-4 years,’ Karbasian said.” (Trend, “Russian company inks mineral contract with Iran,” 4/7/14)

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In a 2011 company brochure, STG states that in the past it has completed designs for compressor plants in Havaran and Hadjiabad, Iran. In a separate 2011 brochure, STG states it has completed  “Construction of the Assaluye—Aghajari gas pipeline (62 km)” in Iran.

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According to a 2009 company brochure, STG has a representative office in Iran.

"Russia's NLMK sees ‘no opportunities’ in Iran despite lifting of sanctions. Russia’s largest steelmaker, Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK), has said it sees no significant opportunities for steel product sales in Iran, despite the lifting of international sanctions." (2016)

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A 2009 NLMK report states that Iran is one of the “leading importers of [NLMK] products…in the Middle East.”

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NLKM Group holds three US "Group" Members: NLKM Pennsylvenia, NLKM Indiana, and  NLMK Sharon Coating.

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“As economic sanctions eased last month under a temporary accord, Iran is shaping up as a hot, untapped opportunity for Western steel exporters, particularly high-grade varieties. ArcelorMittal (MT) and Russia’s OAO Novolipetsk Steel have mills in central Asia that supplied Iran before sanctions in 2007, when it imported 12.2 million tons a year of the metal, valued at $6 billion today. Other steelmakers are quietly testing the waters…About 45 producers sent representatives to a steel conference last month in Tehran to study export opportunities and investing in Iran’s domestic industry, Karbasian said. More than 10 steelmakers contacted by Bloomberg declined to comment or said they hadn’t attended the event…Russian producers including Novolipetsk say geographical and infrastructure links with Iran will create opportunities for them too…’It’s a big market for steel,” said Oleg Bagrin, chief executive officer of Novolipetsk, which used to export to Iran. “We could go back if sanctions are lifted.’” (Bloomberg, “Iran Thaw Seen Re-Stoking $6 Billion Market for Steel,” 3/12/14)

According to its Company Website, Iran is part of Russian Railways’ “North-South Corridor.” This corridor is “part of a strategic partnership with the countries to the south and [Russian Railways] duly signed an Intergovernmental Agreement on its construction with India and Iran in September, 2000.” 

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"Russian Railways OJSC plans to build and electrify the railway from Iran to Azerbaijan and further to Russia, RIA Novosti reported. The chairman of the State Duma Committee (lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia) on transport Evgeniy Moskvichev made the remarks commenting on the issues that will be discussed during the visit of the State Duma Speaker Sergey Naryshkin on November 16-17." (Trend, "Russia to build railway from Iran toward Azerbaijan," 11/17/14)

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"Russian Railways has signed a memorandum of understanding with Iranian Railways to expedite the implementation of rail projects in Iran. The 6th meeting of Iran-Russia transport cooperation working group was held in Tehran, Iran's Mehr news agency reported on August 27. Russian Railways agreed to expedite the implementation of the Garmsar-Incheborun railway project as well as the establishment of the Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway which is intended to connect Iran's railway to Azerbaijan and Russia. The Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway, with a length of 375km is currently the missing link in the North-South corridor, which, when completed, will extend from Northern Europe to Southeast Asia." (Trend, "Russia to expedite railway projects in Iran," 8/27/14)

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"Russian Railways company is holding talks with Iran to electrify 600 kilometers of railroads in the Islamic Republic, the company's deputy president announced. 'It is a concrete project, which was discussed with the Iranians literally last week,' Russian Railways deputy president Alexander Saltanov was quoted by the Moscow Times as saying. Delegations from Russian Railways and its subsidiary Russian Railways International will go to Iran 'in the near future' to work through the technical side of the venture, he added on Tuesday. The total cost of the project has not been determined, but could exceed 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion), Saltanov said." (Tasnim News, "Russian Railways to Electrify 600km of Iran’s Railroads," 7/9/14)

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“The president of Iranian Railways, Mohsen Pour Seyed Aqaei and chairman of the Council of the Board and president of Russian Railways JSC, Vladimir Yakunin discussed six rail projects, Iran's IRIB news agency reported on May 10. Heads of the railways of Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan agreed that the Rasht-Astara railway to be built by Russia. Also, the Azerbaijani side will extend the railway from Iran-Azerbaijan border into Azerbaijan's territory. Mohsen Pour Seyed Aqaei said Iran is ready to revise transit tariffs in order to increase the volume of goods which are transited through the country. The 60th meeting of the Council on Rail Transport wrapped up on May 7, 2014 in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan. Iran requested the inclusion of Iran's railway administration as an associate member of the Council. Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway in Iran will connect North Europe to Southeast Asia. Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway, with a length of 375km, is intended to connect Iran's railway to Azerbaijan and Russia, Fars news agency quoted Iranian Railways Company's managing director Mohsen Pour Seyed Aqaei as saying on April 23…The railway is estimated to carry 1.4 million passengers and from five to seven million tonnes of cargo per year…The railway had been scheduled to be inaugurated this year, but the project is faced with a budget deficit, he added. If the financial problem is resolved, the railway will be inaugurated next year.” (Trend, “Russia to build railway in Iran,” 5/10/14)

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“Russia's economy chief on Wednesday announced plans to visit Iran amid reports of the two sides nearing a mammoth oil-for-goods deal that has raised consternation in the United States. Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev told Russian media his late April trip would focus on a ‘wide range of trade and economic issues’ but provided no further details.Moscow's Kommersant business daily on January 16 said the two close trading partners were negotiating a barter agreement under which Russia could import up to 500,000 barrels of Iranian oil per day. Russian officials have neither confirmed nor denied the discussions…Tehran's Fars news agency quoted Moscow's Iranian ambassador as saying on Saturday that the latest terms of the proposed deal would see Russia build Iran railroads in exchange for oil…Russian Railways state corporation chief Vladimir Yakunin had earlier expressed interest in helping Iran develop a railroad to its northern neighbour Armenia.” (AFP, “Russian minister plans Iran trip amid oil deal reports,” 2/12/14)

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"Iran may award OAO Russian Railways, the country's rail monopoly a new contract worth about $250 million after the state-run company completed a link between Tebriz and Azarshahr, RIA Novosti reported, citing the head of the Russian Railways unit doing the work."(Bloomberg News, "Iran May Award Russian Rails New $250 Million Contract, Ria Says," 6/9/12)

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“Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin led a delegation of Russian Railways to Iran and in Tehran met with government representatives and senior managers of Iranian Railways, including Managing Director Saheb Mohammadi. ‘A mutually beneficial partnership between Russian and Iranian railways in modernisation and infrastructure development is key to strengthening economic cooperation and friendly relations between Iran and Russia,’ said Yakunin. The partners discussed cooperation between the rail systems of the two countries in implementing joint infrastructure projects in Iran. The Iranians proposed that Russia play a role in electrifying the Tehran - Bafq railway line. Following the meeting, the sides agreed to establish a working group for the joint development of the proposal with a proposed schedule and other conditions.” (Russian Railways, “Russian Railways receives proposal to electrify Tehran - Bafq line,” 2/9/11)

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According to its Company Website, “In 2008, the railways of Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on the construction of a railway line between Rasht - Astara (Iran) - Astara (Azerbaijan). Russian Railways considers this railway line as a key element in the North - South International Transport Corridor (ITC)…Following negotiations, the leaders of railways from Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding in November 2011…According to the results of pre-project development, RAI, Russian Railways and CJSC Azerbaijan Railways will ensure compliance with the corporate procedures required to set up the joint venture which will then directly implement the project. (Russian Railways, “International Projects: Iran.”)

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According to its Company Website, “Russian Railways and the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI) concluded a contract for the electrification of the Tabriz - Azarshahr railway line on 29 April 2008. A ceremony was held to mark the beginning of construction on 9 February 2009…On 13 October 2012, Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways, took part in the opening ceremony of the Tabriz - Azarshahr line, which was electrified jointly by Russian and Iranian specialists.” (Russian Railways, “International Projects: Iran.”) 

“The Bank of Moscow agreed to remit $9.5 million to the U.S. over allegations it handled money transfers with a bank under U.S. sanctions. The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said in an enforcement notice that the Bank of Moscow, which is formally known as the Joint-Stock Commercial Bank, sent 69 transfers totaling more than $41 million through the U.S. between January 2008 and July 2009 on behalf of Bank Melli Iran ZAO, which was placed under U.S. sanctions in October 2007. None of the payment messages Bank of Moscow sent included references to the bank under U.S. sanctions; instead, it identified the bank in abbreviations, the notice said. U.S. financial institutions processed the transactions without intervening, Treasury said. Representatives of Bank of Moscow couldn’t be reached for comment.” (Wall Street Journal, “Bank of Moscow Settles US Sanctions Allegations,” 1/27/14)

"OMZ has supplied equipment for more than 80 nuclear power units in Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Finland, India, China and Iran... Izhorskiye Zavody has produced more than 60 assemblages of equipment for VVER-440 and VVER-1000 nuclear power plants in Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Finland, India, China and Iran. In the past 10 years Izhorskiye Zavody has produced the complete equipment array for two power plant units with VVER-1000 nuclear reactors for the Tianwan NPP (China), for two power plant units with VVER-1000 nuclear reactors for the Kudankulam NPP (India), and for one power plant unit with a VVER -1000 nuclear reactor for the Bushehr NPP (Iran)." (OMZ website, "Equipment for Nuclear Power Engineering")

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"OMZ OJSC (Uralmash-Izhora Group) (RTS: OMZZ; LSE: OMZD; OTC: UHMVY) announced today that a modernized SBSh-270IZ drilling rig produced by IZ-KARTEX LLC, a part of OMZ Group, for the metals company Chador Malu, Iran, has been put into operation... Supply of the rig allows IZ-KARTEX to enter prospect Iranian market of mining equipment and to expand the company’s client base." (OMZ website; Press Release, "A Drilling Rig Produced by OMZ’s IZ-KARTEX For Chador Malu, Iran’s Company, Is Put into Operation," 4/15/2009)

" In 2016, the Group began transporting pellets to Hungary, Germany, Kazakhstan and Iran."

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"Iran plans to increase steel output, becoming an exporter of the metal, after U.S.-led sanctions over the country’s nuclear program reduced imports by 30 percent, an executive from the Islamic republic’s Esfahan Steel Co. said . . . Russian companies including OAO Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel and Metalloinvest (METIN) have been supplying steel to Iran." (Bloomberg, "Iran Plans To Raise Steel Output After Sanctions Cut Imports 30%," 6/26/12) 

"Russian steelmaker Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works, otherwise known as MMK, has started shipping its flat steel products to Iran through Kazakhstan’s port of Aktau. Transportation through Aktau will allow MMK save money and develop sales to Iran, according to market sources." (January 22, 2017).

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parent company Mintha Holding Limited

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"Russian steelmaker MMK's Turkish unit sees Iran and Syria, both constrained by sanctions in international trade, as promising markets, the unit's chief executive said on Wednesday... 'On Iran we expect increasing sales. I think that the political situation will still allow us to enter these markets,' he said, adding the unit, MMK Metalurji, had already supplied small volumes to Iran... MMK, the Russian acronym for Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works, will invest an additional $100 million in its Turkish plant to boost efficiency and take advantage of a market recovery, which it anticipates from 2013 onward, Galkin said... MMK CEO Boris Dubrovsky said earlier this year the company would consider selling a 49 percent stake in MMK Metalurji provided the plant was running at its full capacity and a decent offer was made." (Reuters, "MMK says Syria, Iran promising clients for upgraded Turkish mill," 11/7/2012)

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"Iran plans to increase steel output, becoming an exporter of the metal, after U.S.-led sanctions over the country’s nuclear program reduced imports by 30 percent, an executive from the Islamic republic’s Esfahan Steel Co. said . . . Russian companies including OAO Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel and Metalloinvest (METIN) have been supplying steel to Iran. MMK failed to complete a deal to buy a stake in Esfahan Steel in 2008." (Bloomberg, "Iran Plans To Raise Steel Output After Sanctions Cut Imports 30%," 6/26/12)

"A Russian firm has decided to stop verifying safety and environmental standards for one of Iran's biggest shipping groups, a letter showed, the latest international company wary of being caught up in Western sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Iran is under growing pressure over its disputed nuclear program and companies are cutting ties with its vital shipping sector, which transports most of its crude oil, for fear of losing lucrative U.S. business. Moscow opposes concerted trade pressure on Tehran by Washington and its allies, making the Russian company's decision unusual. A letter seen by Reuters showed St. Petersburg-based Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS), among the top 13 global ship classification societies, had decided to suspend its activities in Iran after being urged to pull out by U.S. pressure group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). A targeted campaign by UANI, which includes former U.S. ambassadors on its board and is funded by private donations, has already led to other classification societies exiting Iran. Without certification from classification societies, vessels are unable to secure insurance cover or call at most international ports. 'The decision has been taken to suspend RS activities in Iran,' its chief executive Mikhail Ayvazov wrote in a letter to UANI dated August 31" (Reuters, "Exclusive: Russian firm to halt Iran ship work as pressure grows," 9/5/12)

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The Islamic Republic of Iran has delegated the authority to survey vessels, to confirm compliance with international conventions and to issue corresponding certificates to the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS), RS advertising department reports.  (Information Agency, PortNews. “Iran authorizes Russian Maritime Registry of Shipping for vessel survey,” 6/23/2009)

"Alfa-Bank is not considering entry on the Iran’s market or joint projects with Iranian companies, Chief Executive Officer of the Russian private bank Andrei Sokolov said on Monday. "The Iranian market is not of interest for us," Sokolov said. The bank is not viewing mutual settlements with Iranian credit institutions, he said." (Tass, "Russia's Alfa-Bank not considering entry on Iran's market - CEO," 7/18/2016).

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"Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman, 47 — who runs Alfa Bank, his nation’s largest private finance house — teamed up with developer Jack Rosen of Rosen Partners in December to invest $1 billion in US real estate from New York to Miami... 'He told me that Alfa never directly funded nuclear projects.' Fridman’s Alfa Bank provided financing throughout the 2000s to Atomstroyexport, the state-owned Russian nuclear vendor that installed the reactors at Bushehr, according to reports... Fridman, a self-made tycoon whose Alfa Group specializes in oil, banking and telecommunications, was ranked No. 57 on Forbes’ billionaires list. The Sunday Times of London in 2007 called his Alfa Group 'one of the most controversial business empires on the planet.'" (New York Daily News, "NY Jewish leader’s biz partner has ‘Iran tie$’," 4/9/2012)

"Like Russia's First Czech-Russian Bank LLC and China's Bank of Kunlun Co. Ltd, they are typically small, obscure financial institutions often based in countries historically friendly to Iran... In February, some traders started flocking to First Czech-Russian Bank after word spread that it had started servicing Iran trade facilities, according to Iran trade professionals. In March, Roman Popov, the chairman and majority owner of the bank, was elected to lead the Russian-Iranian Business Council, promising to increase bilateral trade... A spokeswoman for First Czech-Russian Bank declined to discuss the group's Iran business." (The Wall Street Journal, "Willing Banks Find Profits in Legal Trade With Iran," 4/8/2012)