Iran is expanding energy cooperation with neighboring states such as China and Russia amid harsh economic sanctions imposed on the IRI.

In an interview with Japan's NHK television network on the sidelines of a memorial service for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Ouji said the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to welcome Japanese companies in the country's energy sector.

Inviting Japanese companies to actively participate in the Iranian market, the minister affirmed that Iran has a large crude oil production capacity of four million tons per day and has been able to increase crude oil exports to some countries.

Iran has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia's Gazprom to cooperate in the oil and gas sector, Ovji stressed, Mehr reported.

Iran's oil minister and his accompanying delegation flew from Tehran to Tokyo on Sunday to attend a ministerial meeting of the Asian Green Growth Partnership (AGGPM).

According to the scheduled program, Iran's oil minister will address Asian oil and energy ministers.