This year's inflation has been major talking point since price growth accelerated above expectations early in the year, partly due to the bitingly cold winter, but Alexei Kudrin said the figure of 9% - adjusted upward from the original ceiling of 8.5% - could be hit if oil prices stayed around $65.
And the minister was similarly upbeat about the figures for next year: "In 2007, we can return to the bottom line of 6.5-8%."
Kudrin also said the 2006 budget's targets would be met if oil prices remained at this level, but was cautious about what lay in store if a sudden increase happened.
"If the price leaps to $80, as experts forecast, we will have higher rates of inflation and ruble appreciation," Kudrin said.
He said there was still a high risk that oil prices would rise given that OPEC was raising concerns over the United States' tough line on oil-rich Iran in connection with its controversial nuclear programs.
Kudrin also said rates of the value-added tax, income tax and uniform social tax would remain unchanged (18%, 13% and 26% respectively) and as of January 1, 2006, the state's VAT debt to exporters was 197 billion rubles ($7.3 billion).
In a blow to a controversial and roundly ridiculed piece of legislation proposed by a member of the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, the finance minister also said the government had refused to approve a bill that would have banned ministers from using the words "dollar" and "euro".
The minister said the government's conclusions on the controversial legislative project would be published in the next few days and would be negative.
Kudrin, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov and German Gref, the economic development and trade minister, had all criticized the proposal, with Kudrin, in particular, suggesting that it would be difficult to calculate global GDP in rubles.
"Deputies will most likely have to review the given bill and correct the mistakes," Kudrin said, though he added he doubted that it could be simply amended.
