French Jews slam Iranian president’s visit on Holocaust remembrance day

France will also sign deals in the areas of health, agriculture and the environment with Iran, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said.

France’s Peugeot carmaker signed a deal with Iran’s Khodro to modernize its plant and once again begin producing Peugeot vehicles in the previously sanctioned country.

According to the President, his country is an extremely viable in terms of favorability, following Iran’s nuclear programs’ sanction removal. Peugeot pulled out of Iran in 2012 due to the sanctions.

The two also signed a framework agreement which will allow Total to take between 150,000 and 200,000 barrels of crude from Iran a day for delivery to French and European refineries. The U.S. still maintains many sanctions on Iran linked to human rights and terrorism. Iran’s transport minister said an agreement had been reached to buy Airbus jets.

The Iranian president and his 120-member delegation of business leaders and cabinet ministers arrived in Paris on Wednesday evening.

January 29-Iran signed a deal with Airbus for the purchase of 118 aircraft from the European manufacturer.

But with France taking a hard line in nuclear negotiations, being outspoken in its condemnation of Tehran’s support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and having close ties with Sunni states, the Paris visit will be more low key.

“As a top official for 37 years in the religious dictatorship in Iran, Rouhani is implicated in all the atrocities of this regime and as a result should be brought to justice for crimes against humanity”, she told the crowd.

The French President, for his part, highlighted that the post- nuclear agreement condition has turned a new page in Tehran-Paris relations, as well as for the Islamic Republic’s relations with the worldwide community as a whole.

A demonstration was organized by a topless activist in Paris today to protest against the execution of hundreds of people in Iran every year.

Carlos Tavares, chairman of the PSA Peugeot-Citroen managing board, announced the deal Thursday during a visit to France by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Iranian diplomats had reportedly requested that no wine be served at Mr Rouhani’s lunch meeting with French President Francois Hollande, leading French officials to postpone the meeting until after lunch.

“We wish to commence a fresh round of cooperation on solid foundation, and major French companies are ready to have an active presence in Iran”, said Hollande, adding cultural, economic, scientific, social and technological exchanges would be the means for developing both nations’ welfare and prosperity.

Issues for Iran include the death penalty and the abuse of rights of women and minorities, while the state of emergency declared by Hollande after Islamist militant attacks in Paris on November 13 previous year threaten rights to liberty and freedom of movement in France, it said.