Iran Ready for Economic Cooperation with All Countries: Zarif
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reaffirmed that the country is willing to have trade ties with the entire world, even the United States, after the recent termination of anti-Iran sanctions.
“We have no restrictions for having economic, and not just trade, communications with the East and West,” Zarif said in a Thursday meeting with a group of Iranian expatriates in London.
“Even if Americans are ready to invest in Iran, we would welcome that,” he added.
However, Zarif said, Iran is not willing to allow the country’s post-sanctions market to be used for excessive imports of consumer goods.
Spokesman for the Iranian Administration Mohammad Baqer Nobakht had earlier this month said that the country sees no restrictions on the expansion of economic relations between Tehran and Washington in the post-sanctions era.
“Our political ties with this country (the United States) ... require fundamental changes in their (Americans’) policy,” Nobakht said in an interview with Al-Alam TV last Saturday.
“As regards economic issues, however, we do not attach any restrictions,” the Iranian spokesman said in response to a question on Tehran’s possible economic ties with the US.
In similar remarks in late January, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said there is no obstacle for Americans to invest in Iran, noting that Tehran welcomes US investment in technological fields and joint production.
Speaking at a press conference in the Italian capital of Rome, he added that any possible problem in the way of joint economic cooperation derives from the US’s own regulations.
Rouhani did not rule out the possibility of a thaw in relations between Tehran and Washington, but made it clear that the key to the normalization of ties is in the hands of the US, not Iran.
“Establishment of non-hostile relations, without tensions, between the two countries (Iran and the US) is possible, but its key is in Washington not in Tehran,” President Rouhani said.