Peugeot to return to Iran under Thursday deal: French source

The president is accompanied by a delegation of more than 100 ministers, officials and businessmen marking the return of Iran on the global economic stage with the lifting of sanctions after a historic deal over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Rouhani was also expected to meet with French President Francois Hollande during his visit.

According to the officials, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue publicly, said that most other European Union members view the proposal as counterproductive to efforts to revive political and economic ties with Iran.

Italy’s opposition leaders, commentators and media grew increasingly vocal in their criticism on Wednesday of nude statues being covered by white boxes in Rome’s city hall and museum complex for a visit by Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani.

As well as a deal for Airbus planes, contracts are likely to be signed with auto manufacturers Peugeot and Renault, Mr Rouhani told reporters on Monday.

The two men made speeches in Rome’s Capitoline Museum after a signing ceremony on Monday which saw Italian companies tie up 17 billion euros ($18 billion) worth of deals with the Islamic Republic.

Italy’s culture minister says the decision to cover up naked statues at a Rome museum where Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was visiting is ‘incomprehensible’.

At a press conference rounding off his Rome visit, Rouhani was defiant when asked whether Iran would apologize to Saudi Arabia for an attack on its embassy by demonstrators furious over Riyadh’s execution of a prominent Shiite cleric, Nimr al-Nimr. About 20 accords between companies and ministries were to be signed Thursday, the French president’s office said.

“Investing in Iran is not exactly like investing in Holland or Denmark”, a French diplomatic source said.

Disclosure that the French asked for such a review – even if it is ultimately unsuccessful – could complicate Rouhani’s low-key visit.

PARIS (AP) – After years of tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Europe is ushering in a new era of relations with the once-pariah state, welcoming Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Italy and France with high expectations that he can set in motion lucrative business deals and regional peacemaking.

Rouhani himself said: “We need to modernise our aviation fleet and buy locomotives”.

He denied that Iran supported terrorist groups throughout the region, claiming “it is clear that Iran is a country opposed to terrorism and a country that fights terrorism”.

Rouhani planned to visit France in November but canceled at the last minute, following the attacks in Paris.

The Vatican confirmed Rouhani also met with Pope Francis on Tuesday to talk about Iran’s role in restoring peace in the Middle East, as well as the Iranian nuclear deal.