Majid Takht Ravanchi who was addressing the second Iran-Europe Banking and Business Forum in Tehran on Saturday criticized the ‘cautious behavior’ by European banks and business firms in resuming transactions with Iran, while the US had announced the easing of business restrictions on Iran; “however, the European disinformation about the final state of sanctions which are removed now, is a challenge upon themselves and would effectively mar their renewed trade with Iran,” Takht Ravanchi told the meeting.
“Some countries have been working to challenge and stymie the successful path of the JCPOA, while as times goes by, their attempts would fade away with no avail,” he added.
On the fight against money-laundering, he said that Iran was classified as a high-risk country; “the status should change for Iran since it has been unjust and did not reflected the realities. The Central Bank waged laudable attempts to address the problem. An act has been passed in the Parliament and is in the queue for examination by the Guardian Council; an amendment also has been made to Money-laundering Act as well,” Takht Ravanchi provided examples of administrative attempts to curb money-laundering.
“JCPOA is a great opportunity for Iran and the EU for restoring trade to pre-sanctions status; no legal barrier would hit this relationship; during sanctions era, EU companies had kept a low profile in trade with Iran and the post-JCPOA era has seen a culmination of interest in trade with Iran, with EU delegations arriving in Tehran,” he told the meeting.
“Sanctions relegated the EU status in trade with Iran during the low-trade years of 2011 and 2012; it sought new customers then, abandoning Iran for its own means; with sanctions belonging to history, Iranophobia sank down to depths of abeyance and new era was appearing in the horizons which bestowed upon us an improved place in the region,” Takht Ravanchi told the forum; “with sanctions removed, trade has been possible for EU banks and firms with Iran, the most important part of which is Iranian banks joining SWIFT transactions,” he added.
Takht Ravanchi also said that American plane manufacturer Boeing had received permissions to work with Iran in selling planes and spare parts just after President Rouhani’s visit brought lucrative agreements to European rival Airbus in January. he reiterated that Iran would not be merely consumer market for foreign imported goods and announced a preference to indigenize technology and know-how from industrial countries.
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