IN THE OPINION OF OPEC, IRAN ESTABLISHES THE PARTNERSHIP WITH RUSSIA
OUT OF COUNTERWEIGHT A THE EXPANSION OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE
AREA








VIENNA, March 12.  (Corr. Ria " Novosti " Borislav Petchnikov).  The
current visit of president d' Iran Sayed Mohammad Khatami in Russia,
premiere since the Islamic revolution of 1979, is interpretee by the
leading mediums of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC) like " the establishment of the partnership with Moscow as
counterweight has the expansion americaine in the area ".

According to the information of the susmentionnes mediums, the oil
reserves strategic in Central Asia, the deliveries of armaments and
the problems of the electronucleaire will be the principal subjects of
the negotiations Russo-Iranian women, cable the correspondent of RIA "
Novosti ".

The establishment of the close connections between Russia and Iran is
the natural result of our vicinity, as well as an answer has the
pressure exercee by the Occident on Iran, second crude oil producer, A
declares Elahe Kulaye, expert of the Russian questions and depute of
the Iranian Parliament, has the visit day before of the Iranian
president in Russia.

The fact that Teheran attaches a great importance to the development
of the contacts with Russia, inter alia, in the field of energy, east
confirms by the arrivee has Moscow, with Mohammad Khatami, of the
Iranian Minister for Oil Bijan Namdar Zanganeh.  During talks with his
Russian colleagues, it intends to learn their attitude towards the
possible decision from the 11e conference of OPEC has Vienna on the
reduction of the quotas of extraction and of export of the crude,
estimate the experts of OPEC.

Moreover, Khatami and Zanganeh intend to examine has Moscow the
relative problems has the Caspian one and to work out the joint
position, in order to subject it has the examination of other
bordering countries of the Caspian one.

The experts of OPEC point out that as well Teheran as Moscow are
anxious extension of the Islamic movement sunnite of the " Taliban "
in Afghanistan.  In the opinion of Iran Shiite, this movement
represente a danger not only for the Occident, but also to the Moslem
East.