Iraq’s foreign minister said Tuesday that Baghdad will consider reviving oil deals with Russian firms signed under the regime of deposed president Saddam Hussein, the day after Russia agreed to write off $12bn in Iraqi debt.

Hoshyar Zebari was quoted by Russia’s RIA-Novosti press agency as saying that a bilateral comission would “consider contracts with Lukoil and other Russian companies,” and that his country was not trying to avoid issues “originating from former obligations.”