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| French companies join European push to rejoin Iran market after sanctions | French companies join European push to rejoin Iran market after sanctions |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Wrapping up his four-day trip to Italy and France, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday added French automaker Peugeot-Citroën and aircraft giant Airbus to a growing profile of European companies seeking to return to Iran. | |
| The quick bids for footholds in Iran — less than two weeks after international sanctions were rolled back — reflect the eagerness in Europe to tap into the large Iranian consumer market and get a head start on potential rivals from the United States and elsewhere. | |
| But the multibillion-dollar deals carved out in Italy and France have also stirred opposition from rights groups and activists. Some claim that Iran’s crackdowns on political dissent, its anti-Israel diatribes and other internal pressures, such as rising executions, should be addressed as part of any new business outreach. | But the multibillion-dollar deals carved out in Italy and France have also stirred opposition from rights groups and activists. Some claim that Iran’s crackdowns on political dissent, its anti-Israel diatribes and other internal pressures, such as rising executions, should be addressed as part of any new business outreach. |
| [Iran’s president asks pope for prayers] | [Iran’s president asks pope for prayers] |
| Most international sanctions on Iran were lifted earlier this month under a nuclear pact with world powers that reined in Tehran’s capabilities. At the same time, under a separate arrangement, the United States freed or cleared 21 Iranians in U.S. sanctions-related cases, while Iran released five American prisoners, including Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian. | |
| Rouhani, accompanied by a 120-member delegation of political and commercial leaders, pointed to the business deals as validation of his push for the nuclear accord — which angered some hard-liners in Iran as too great a concession to the West. | Rouhani, accompanied by a 120-member delegation of political and commercial leaders, pointed to the business deals as validation of his push for the nuclear accord — which angered some hard-liners in Iran as too great a concession to the West. |
| In France, Peugeot-Citroën announced a joint venture with carmaker Iran Khodro to produce 200,000 cars a year at a plant near Tehran, which will also get an upgrade. Peugeot had a major stake in Iran’s car market before sanctions. | |
| [Italians angered by nude cover-up for Rouhani visit. It’s not new.] | [Italians angered by nude cover-up for Rouhani visit. It’s not new.] |
| Airbus, meanwhile, said it reached a deal to sell state-run Iran Air 118 aircraft, including 12 A380 superjumbos. It gives the Boeing rival a significant jump back into a market in desperate need of new planes. On some routes, Iran continues to fly Boeing models built before the 1979 Islamic revolution. | |
| French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said other agreements were expected in the health, agriculture and environment sectors, without giving further details. France’s state rail company SNCF also announced a deal with Iran. | French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said other agreements were expected in the health, agriculture and environment sectors, without giving further details. France’s state rail company SNCF also announced a deal with Iran. |
| A French diplomatic source, cited by the Reuters news agency, placed the total value of the French pacts at $16 billion. If confirmed, that would bring the total agreements during Rouhani’s trip to more than $33 billion. | |
| The attraction of the Iranian market is clear. The country, with about 80 million people, has a young and well-educated population, and its middle class is among the most vibrant — and product-hungry — in the region. | The attraction of the Iranian market is clear. The country, with about 80 million people, has a young and well-educated population, and its middle class is among the most vibrant — and product-hungry — in the region. |
| “Iran’s needs are enormous,” said Pierre Gattaz, head of France’s Medef employers association. “The country is not starting from scratch; it’s got a very educated workforce, a real development potential.” | “Iran’s needs are enormous,” said Pierre Gattaz, head of France’s Medef employers association. “The country is not starting from scratch; it’s got a very educated workforce, a real development potential.” |
| In Italy, companies including steel and industrial firms signed a total of about $18 billion in deals with Iran during Rouhani’s visit. | In Italy, companies including steel and industrial firms signed a total of about $18 billion in deals with Iran during Rouhani’s visit. |
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| Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world |