President says Iran favorable terrain for trade

Supporters of Maryam Rajavi, President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, demonstrate against the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s visit in Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016.

“Iran has considerable needs in the areas of infrastructure, construction of networks, automotive industry, air and rail transport, which are areas in which French companies are excelling”, the Elysee said, estimating the potential gains of local firms in Tehran at more of 10 million euros (10.91 million USA dollars).

Iran agreed on Thursday (Jan 28) to buy 118 Airbus aircraft worth about US$25 billion (€22 billion), according to a memorandum of understanding signed during a visit to France by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Today, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the countries should forget past rancor.

“France has for a long time turned itself towards Iran, fascinated by its history, attracted by its culture, seduced by this great nation which is so incomparable”, he said.

Italian companies have been amongst the quickest off the blocks, with a major business delegation having visited Tehran in November and some 500 entrepreneurs invited to the forum Rouhani will attend on Tuesday. Some demonstrators, including a member of the women’s protest group FEMEN who staged a mock hanging, criticized what they saw as the hypocrisy of pandering to authoritarian leaders just because there was an opportunity to make some money. It pulled out of the country in 2012 as sanctions began to bite.

About 20 agreements will be signed after a meeting between Rouhani and President Francois Hollande.

“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.

On the other hand, Washington’s perceived over-eagerness to reach a deal with Iran has lost its Middle Eastern allies’ trust, while remaining United States restrictions on trade mean American companies are less likely to benefit from the post-sanctions windfall.

The visit will also touch on Iran’s role in Syria.

PARIS A almost naked woman hung from a fake noose off a bridge near the Eiffel Tower on Thursday next to a banner reading “Welcome Rouhani, Executioner of Freedom”.

France is trying “to ease tensions by speaking to everyone, which is our vocation”, said a ranking French diplomat ahead of Rouhani’s arrival.

“We must go beyond those wounds” caused by sanctions, Peugeot Chairman Carlos Tavares said at a news conference.

During the nuclear negotiations, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius took the toughest stance, leaving the impression that he would have insisted on a better one if the Americans had not been so desperate for an agreement. The U.S. still maintains many sanctions on Iran linked to human rights and terrorism.