IRNA – Parallel with increased diplomatic moves to revive nuclear deal with Iran and possibility of termination of US unilateral sanctions many major European companies had a meeting with Iranian economic activists to survey ways for their return to Iranian market.
According to the IRNA correspondent in London, in the virtual meeting co-sponsored jointly by the British Iranian Chamber of Commerce (BICC) and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London, some 148 representatives of major European companies in health, oil and gas, renewable energies, financial institutes, and even small and medium size companies were present to survey ways and strategies for restarting trade and business with Iran.
British prime minister’s special envoy to BICC, Lord Norman Lamont who is meanwhile the BICC chairman briefed the IRNA correspondent on the outcome the virtual event, arguing that a “conservative optimism” on reopening of trade and business with Iran is taking shape among the European companies, which depends on the future of political developments related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
He said that trade with Iran is legally approved for the Europeans, but there are three obstacles, namely the banking transactions, the US sanctions and thirdly, their psychological effects, that are the main obstacles in the way of development of the EU-Iran economic cooperation.
Lamont said that the signals transmitted by the White House on termination of sanctions and the US return to the JCPOA have played a significant role in increasing the number of participants in our today virtual meeting.
He also referred to the drastically decreased number of BICC members during the past two years due to the antagonistic Trump administration policies, adding, “In today’s meeting many of the participants were not BICC members, but eager in reopening of bilateral economic ties.”
The member of House of Lords meanwhile noted that the BICC-IRI Embassy meeting that is held after a long delay is a noteworthy and significant achievement, and worth contemplation.
The British prime minister’s special envoy for trade with Iran in response to a question on possibility of his being contacted by US officials on reopening trade with Iran, said, “I have personally not had any such contact, but the British government officials have definitely had contacts in that respect. I am not a government official and not in touch with President Biden administration, but I am constantly negotiating with British ministers (on trade with Iran).”
The British politician and former Chancellor of the Exchequer was asked if he has received signals on the future perspective of the British government’s trade ties with Iran.
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