TEHRAN, July 14 (UPI) -- Russian energy firm Gazprom signed a memorandum of understanding with the Iranian state-run oil company, officials said.
Gazprom chief Alexei Miller signed the agreement during the weekend with National Iranian Oil Co. director Seifollah Jashnsaz days after French energy firm Total withdrew from a development project in the South Pars gas field.
Miller met also with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to discuss further ties between the Russian energy giant and the second-largest oil-producing nation in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, the Iranian Press TV said.
"Gazprom will be a cooperative partner for the Islamic Republic of Iran," Miller said.
Iranian state television said Gazprom would help in "big" development projects in the North and South Pars gas fields as well as the Azadegan oil field.
Iranian Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari said the deal was the largest agreement ever signed between the Islamic Republic and Gazprom.
