Sanctions Won’t Block Iran’s Trade: President

In a meeting with the new Austrian ambassador to Tehran on Sunday, Raisi expressed Iran’s readiness to enhance trade and economic cooperation with Austria and other nations, stressing that the obstacles will never halt Iran’s progress. 

Although the “cruel and illegal sanctions” have created some hindrances, they are unable to prevent the promotion of Iran’s economic and trade cooperation with other countries, he stressed.

The president further pointed to the reports released by the International Atomic Energy Agency attesting to the peacefulness of Iran’s nuclear activities, saying the nuclear-related sanctions are all baseless and bogus.

“Moreover, Tehran has honored all of its JCPOA commitments, but it was the Americans that withdrew from the JCPOA and the Europeans that failed to meet their commitments,” he noted.

On the crisis in Afghanistan, Raisi said the displacement of Afghan people is a result of the US policies and measures in Afghanistan over the past two decades.

He also said that Iran hosts the Afghan refugees with a humanitarian and Islamic viewpoint. “Considering the presence of millions of Afghan refugees in Iran, European countries must fulfill their duty and Austria should remind them of this issue.”

For his part, Austrian ambassador Wolf Dietrich Heim said Vienna seeks to enhance cooperation with Tehran, particularly in the sectors relating to financing and economic exchanges.

Pointing to the joint projects that have been implemented under the anti-Iranian sanctions, the envoy said his country is willing to elevate the relations with Iran.

Appreciating Iran for hosting the Afghan migrants, Dietrich Heim said Austria is well aware of and lauds Iran’s humanitarian behavior and services offered to the refugees, especially in delicate conditions.