FILE PHOTO: Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak arrives at the OPEC headquarters in Vienna, Austria July 1, 2019. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after meeting his Iranian counterpart Bijan Zanganeh in Vienna on Monday that Moscow was interested in Iran remaining an equal player in the global energy market, according to a statement released by the Russian energy ministry.

Washington has demanded that Saudi Arabia pump more oil to compensate for lower exports from Iran after the United States slapped fresh sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program.