Iran’s Rouhani says terrorism main problem in Syria

Rouhani said at the start of his visit to France that the Islamic Republic is ready to welcome foreign investors adding there are no more obstacles to investment in Iran.

Rouhani was just in Rome, where signed agreements worth more than $15 billion.

Manuel Valls, the French prime minister, said the countries should forget past rancour.

Pierre Gattaz, head of France’s Medef employers association, said he also expected deals to be signed with French railway operator SNCF, and aluminium company Fives.

Following an unauthorized missile test carried out by Iran on October 10, four countries-USA, France, Germany and Britain-had asked the UN Sanctions Committee for an investigation.

The first visit to Paris by an Iranian leader this century was greeted by a near-naked woman protester dangling from a rope, an avalanche of trade deals and no official lunch.

The feminist activist hung from the Debilly footbridge under a sign reading “Welcome Rohani, executioner of freedom”.

“We don’t see any obstacles for companies who would want to come and invest in Iran”, Rouhani told a French business delegation.

“So we have to say the money will go to their hands for export of terrorism, fundamentalism, especially in Syria, in Iraq, in Lebanon”, she continued.

Mr Rouhani hopes to agree several deals, including with French aircraft manufacturer Airbus for 100 planes.

Although many sanctions relating to Iran’s nuclear program have been lifted, most US measures remain in place.

“It shows that Francois Hollande doesn’t care about human rights”.

“We will sign an agreement with Total (this) afternoon”, he said, without elaborating.

Rouhani said his country is “favorable terrain” for resumed trade between East and West, as he and Valls pledged to turn the page on past tensions.

Iran is also eager to acquire a new generation of civilian planes to replace its current fleet, which is among the oldest in the world.

The deals announced on Thursday include the purchase of $25bn worth of Airbus aircraft and the sale of up to 200,000 barrels of Iranian crude oil a day to French energy giant Total.

Protestors in France are demanding that Hollande take Rouhani to task over the thousands of political prisoners jailed in Iran for speaking against the regime, election rigging and public executions, amputations and floggings.

On Thursday, Rouhani sat down for talks with Hollande and oversaw the signing of over 20 memorandums of understanding in various sectors, including telecommunications, environment, tourism, agriculture, higher education and transportation.

His visit to France is the first by an Iranian president since 1999 and comes as part of a five-day trip.

Reiterating Iran’s official stance, Rouhani blamed Shi’ite Iran’s Sunni regional rival Saudi Arabia for the drop in oil prices, which have halved since last May as global supply outstrips demand.