TEHRAN - A senior Iranian lawmaker has said the Islamic Republic is prepared to supply BRICS member states with oil and gas to meet their growing energy demands, IRNA reported.

Rouhollah Mousavi, a member of the Iranian Parliament's Internal Affairs and Councils Commission, who visited Russia to attend a BRICS parliamentary forum, told IRNA in an interview that Iran is capable of selling oil and gas to BRICS countries in exchange for banking and trade services.

Mousavi said that during the two-day visit to Russia led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Iranian parliamentary delegation held meetings with delegations of other BRICS countries.

In those meetings, the MP added, the Iranian delegation called for the expansion of banking and trade exchanges within BRICS, while also stressing the need for the de-dollarization of economic transactions.

Mousavi stated that Iran's membership in BRICS is mutually beneficial for both Iran and the other emerging economies in the alliance.

He explained that Iran, given its abundant resources, can provide oil and gas to the BRICS countries to meet their energy needs, and in return, other member states can take steps to meet Iran's needs in various banking and trade exchange sectors.

BRICS countries are influential in the global economy as they account for 40 percent of the world's population, 30 percent of global GDP, and 17 percent of world exports, the Iranian parliamentarian asserted.

In late June, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture Alireza Mohajer has also voiced the country’s readiness to cooperate with BRICS member countries on agricultural sector.

Mohajer made the remarks addressing the 14th meeting of the BRICS ministers of agriculture in Russia.

He referred to Iran’s exemplary geographical position, being situated in the intersection of the North-South and East-West transit corridors, noting that the country can help expand regional and international trade networks in the area of agriculture.

The deputy minister highlighted that Iran is an effective partner in bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Iran will make efforts to remove the obstacles on the way of enhancement of agricultural cooperation among BRICS members and expects other member countries to help open new chapters in agricultural economy and trade, the official said.

EF/MA