Deputy FM in Germany for Talks on Nuclear Program, Bilateral Ties
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Seyed Abbas Araqchi, deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, left Tehran for Germany on Sunday for consultations with his German counterpart on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program and issues of mutual interest.
During his one day visit, the Iranian diplomat will hold talks on the Iranian nuclear program and exchange viewpoints with the his host on issues of mutual interest, including improvement of bilateral relations.
Araqchi is also scheduled to give a lecture at that country’s Körber Foundation.
“Social development calls for critical reflection”. This is a principle to which Kurt A. Körber felt bound both as a German and as a world citizen. The foundation established by him takes on this social challenge at a national and international level, according to the foundation’s web page.
Expert-level talks between representatives from Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany came to a halt in the Austrian capital of Vienna on December 12, after the US Treasury Department on issued new sanctions against more than a dozen companies and individuals for allegedly evading US sanctions against Iran.
The US Treasury Department said it was freezing assets and banning transactions of entities that attempt to evade the sanctions against Iran. The decision to penalize those companies and individuals for conducting prohibited business with Iran came just before the administration implored Congress once more not to impose any new sanctions on Tehran.
Following the November 24 deal between Iran and the G5+1 in Geneva, many German companies are hoping sanctions will be eased. They look forward to reviving a traditionally good economic relationship.
The trade volume between the two countries is still quite modest - last year it was less than 3 billion euros - a fraction of the pre-sanctions levels.
In September and in response to a congratulatory message from German President Joachim Gauck, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said the two countries enjoy age-old cordial ties, adding that expansion of relations with Berlin is a priority of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s foreign policy.
“I hope these historical relations will further develop and strengthen in all fields through better cooperation between the two governments,” Rouhani said.