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| Iran president says Tehran ready to 'turn the page' as he renews French relations | Iran president says Tehran ready to 'turn the page' as he renews French relations |
| (7 months later) | |
| Iran’s president has told his French counterpart in a historic visit to the Élysée palace that Tehran was prepared to “turn the page” in bilateral relations after the “resentment” of sanctions as he sought to reintroduce his country in Europe two weeks after implementation of the landmark nuclear deal. | Iran’s president has told his French counterpart in a historic visit to the Élysée palace that Tehran was prepared to “turn the page” in bilateral relations after the “resentment” of sanctions as he sought to reintroduce his country in Europe two weeks after implementation of the landmark nuclear deal. |
| Hassan Rouhani was welcomed by François Hollande at the French presidential residence earlier on Thursday during the first official visit by an Iranian president to the French capital in 17 years. | Hassan Rouhani was welcomed by François Hollande at the French presidential residence earlier on Thursday during the first official visit by an Iranian president to the French capital in 17 years. |
| “Let us forget the resentment,” the Iranian president said at the press conference with Hollande. “We are ready to turn the page.” | “Let us forget the resentment,” the Iranian president said at the press conference with Hollande. “We are ready to turn the page.” |
| Hollande responded: “It’s a new chapter of our relationship. I want that relationship to be useful, useful to both countries, useful to the region [Middle East] affected by wars, crises and tragedies.” | Hollande responded: “It’s a new chapter of our relationship. I want that relationship to be useful, useful to both countries, useful to the region [Middle East] affected by wars, crises and tragedies.” |
| The two-hour meeting at the Élysée finished with the announcement of the signing of a set of lucrative contracts between Iranian officials and French companies, worth billions of euros. Among them was a deal struck with Airbus for the purchase of 118 new commercial passenger planes. | The two-hour meeting at the Élysée finished with the announcement of the signing of a set of lucrative contracts between Iranian officials and French companies, worth billions of euros. Among them was a deal struck with Airbus for the purchase of 118 new commercial passenger planes. |
| The car manufacturer Peugeot also signed a contract with the Iranian car company Iran Khodro for a joint venture worth €400m. French oil company Total also signed a contract with the national Iranian oil company to buy crude oil. Iran is adding an extra 500,000 barrels per day to its exports following the lifting of sanctions. The construction firm Vinci also signed a contract to develop Tehran’s main international airport. | The car manufacturer Peugeot also signed a contract with the Iranian car company Iran Khodro for a joint venture worth €400m. French oil company Total also signed a contract with the national Iranian oil company to buy crude oil. Iran is adding an extra 500,000 barrels per day to its exports following the lifting of sanctions. The construction firm Vinci also signed a contract to develop Tehran’s main international airport. |
| Both leaders said the fight against terrorism was a priority but responded diplomatically on the issue of Syria, over which they have strong disagreements. | Both leaders said the fight against terrorism was a priority but responded diplomatically on the issue of Syria, over which they have strong disagreements. |
| “We must fight terrorism … We must help the Syrian people so that the Syrian people can build a sustainable future for the country,” Rouhani said. “The main problem in Syria is not such and such person, the main issue is terrorism and Daesh,” he added, regarding the fate of Bashar al-Assad, whom Tehran strongly supports. | “We must fight terrorism … We must help the Syrian people so that the Syrian people can build a sustainable future for the country,” Rouhani said. “The main problem in Syria is not such and such person, the main issue is terrorism and Daesh,” he added, regarding the fate of Bashar al-Assad, whom Tehran strongly supports. |
| Hollande said: “Terrorism is our sole enemy.” | Hollande said: “Terrorism is our sole enemy.” |
| In the morning, Rouhani delivered a major speech at Medef, France’s main pro-business confederation in the presence of the French prime minister, Manuel Valls, and top French CEOs. The Iranian president said there was a clear sign that French companies were welcome to Tehran. | In the morning, Rouhani delivered a major speech at Medef, France’s main pro-business confederation in the presence of the French prime minister, Manuel Valls, and top French CEOs. The Iranian president said there was a clear sign that French companies were welcome to Tehran. |
| “France has announced that it is ready to once again enter Iran with a new energy and a new will. We have also come here today to welcome French entrepreneurs, investors to begin economic activities in Iran,” Rouhani told the business leaders. Valls replied that Iran could count on France. | “France has announced that it is ready to once again enter Iran with a new energy and a new will. We have also come here today to welcome French entrepreneurs, investors to begin economic activities in Iran,” Rouhani told the business leaders. Valls replied that Iran could count on France. |
| Since Rouhani’s arrival in Paris on Wednesday afternoon, Iranian officials held a series of closed-doors meetings in the hotel where he was staying. He was accompanied at the Medef gathering by a large number of his cabinet members, including the oil minister, Bijan Zanganeh. | Since Rouhani’s arrival in Paris on Wednesday afternoon, Iranian officials held a series of closed-doors meetings in the hotel where he was staying. He was accompanied at the Medef gathering by a large number of his cabinet members, including the oil minister, Bijan Zanganeh. |
| Valls said the French government was encouraging the business sector to take up opportunities in Iran. “We can open a new chapter,” he said at Medef, addressing Rouhani. “France is ready to mobilise its business sector … for modernisation of your country. I want to put it in a few simple but strong words: Iran can count on France.” | Valls said the French government was encouraging the business sector to take up opportunities in Iran. “We can open a new chapter,” he said at Medef, addressing Rouhani. “France is ready to mobilise its business sector … for modernisation of your country. I want to put it in a few simple but strong words: Iran can count on France.” |
| Rouhani said the lifting of sanctions with the implementation of the nuclear deal two weeks ago had paved the way for an improvement in economic ties. | Rouhani said the lifting of sanctions with the implementation of the nuclear deal two weeks ago had paved the way for an improvement in economic ties. |
| “What we experienced under sanctions was a lose-lose situation that was the result of a wrong policy, a wrong policy that hurt everyone … but today we should seize the opportunity of the era after sanctions,” he said. “France doesn’t need any permission from any other country [to enter business with Iran] and it’s not receiving orders from above and that’s very important for us.” | “What we experienced under sanctions was a lose-lose situation that was the result of a wrong policy, a wrong policy that hurt everyone … but today we should seize the opportunity of the era after sanctions,” he said. “France doesn’t need any permission from any other country [to enter business with Iran] and it’s not receiving orders from above and that’s very important for us.” |
| Medef’s president, Pierre Gattaz, said French businesses had been impressed by the quality of the relations with their Iranian interlocutors. “This new era is already under way. The Iranian door has always been open to French companies.” | Medef’s president, Pierre Gattaz, said French businesses had been impressed by the quality of the relations with their Iranian interlocutors. “This new era is already under way. The Iranian door has always been open to French companies.” |
| Also on the stage at Medef was Mohsen Jalalpour, the head of Iran’s chamber of commerce, industries, mines and agriculture. In an interview with the Guardian on Wednesday, Jalalpour said Rouhani’s administration had prioritised the private sector. | Also on the stage at Medef was Mohsen Jalalpour, the head of Iran’s chamber of commerce, industries, mines and agriculture. In an interview with the Guardian on Wednesday, Jalalpour said Rouhani’s administration had prioritised the private sector. |
| “Sanctions were a bitter experience for Iran,” he told the Guardian. “The lesson was that we can’t only rely on having relations with half of the world and not care about the other half. For over eight decades, Iran has been heavily dependent on oil and the government has played a big role in the economy but this administration is pursuing a new approach.” | “Sanctions were a bitter experience for Iran,” he told the Guardian. “The lesson was that we can’t only rely on having relations with half of the world and not care about the other half. For over eight decades, Iran has been heavily dependent on oil and the government has played a big role in the economy but this administration is pursuing a new approach.” |
| Alstom, the French electricity generation and rail transport firm, is seeking contracts to work on an expansion of the metro in Tehran and to build two more lines in the city of Mashhad and participate in the electrification of the 600-mile Tehran-Mashhad railway. The French industrial group Bouygues and Aéroports de Paris are in talks with Iran to construct the country’s largest transport project, the second terminal at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini international airport. | Alstom, the French electricity generation and rail transport firm, is seeking contracts to work on an expansion of the metro in Tehran and to build two more lines in the city of Mashhad and participate in the electrification of the 600-mile Tehran-Mashhad railway. The French industrial group Bouygues and Aéroports de Paris are in talks with Iran to construct the country’s largest transport project, the second terminal at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini international airport. |
| “Alstom is mobilised to participate in the development of transport infrastructure in Iran thanks to our long successful history with this country and its new focus on railway activities,” Philippe Delleur, senior vice-president at Alstom, told the Guardian. “It covers both urban transport and mainlines.” | “Alstom is mobilised to participate in the development of transport infrastructure in Iran thanks to our long successful history with this country and its new focus on railway activities,” Philippe Delleur, senior vice-president at Alstom, told the Guardian. “It covers both urban transport and mainlines.” |
| Alisher Ali, chairman of Silk Road Finance, an investment group focused on Iran and Eurasian countries, said: “President Rouhani’s visit to Europe and signing numerous multibillion-euro deals with leading European companies was a strong testimony to Iran’s keen desire to boost its economy with massive modernisation and technological upgrade of its key industries including oil and gas, transportation and infrastructure.” | Alisher Ali, chairman of Silk Road Finance, an investment group focused on Iran and Eurasian countries, said: “President Rouhani’s visit to Europe and signing numerous multibillion-euro deals with leading European companies was a strong testimony to Iran’s keen desire to boost its economy with massive modernisation and technological upgrade of its key industries including oil and gas, transportation and infrastructure.” |
| He added: “I believe Iran with its huge pent-up demand and investment requirements represents a unique growth opportunity for many European and international companies. I reckon there will be a wave of European companies actively entering the Iranian market starting from this year.” | He added: “I believe Iran with its huge pent-up demand and investment requirements represents a unique growth opportunity for many European and international companies. I reckon there will be a wave of European companies actively entering the Iranian market starting from this year.” |