06-05-2024 11:29 AM Jerusalem Timing

French Foreign Minister Plans to Visit Tehran Next Week

French Foreign Minister Plans to Visit Tehran Next Week

France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Tuesday he plans to visit Iran "next week", after the historic deal on its nuclear program, and expected to hold talks with President Sheikh Hassan Rouhani.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Jawad Zarif (L), French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (R)France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Tuesday he plans to visit Iran "next week", after the historic deal on its nuclear program, and expected to hold talks with President Sheikh Hassan Rouhani.

Although Fabius did not provide more precise details, but his aides told media outlets that the trip would likely take place next Wednesday.

"I will be there next week," Fabius told French radio.

"My colleague (Mohammad Javad Zarif) invited me. I was invited before but didn't go, but now I think everything is in place for me to go." he said, adding that talks with President Rouhani "were expected."

"I find it completely normal that after this historic deal was signed, France and Iran should restart normal relations," Fabius stressed.

Fabius's trip will be similar to the visit by German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who was the first top Western official to visit the Islamic Republic since world powers and Tehran struck a nuclear deal after years of negotiations.

Gabriel, who is also Chancellor Angela Merkel's deputy and energy minister, embarked on a three-day trip with a small delegation of representatives from companies and industry groups.

Western powers and firms are seeking to take advantage of the nuclear pact to get their feet in the door in Iran's economy.

France used to have a strong presence in Iran before the sanctions went into effect, with Peugeot and Renault being major players in the Iranian auto industry and energy giant Total heavily involved in the oil sector.

But two-way trade has fallen from four billion euros ($4.3 billion) in 2004 to just 500 million euros in 2013, according to French statistics.

The French employers' federation, MEDEF, is due to visit Iran in September to try to kick-start ties.

Some 107 representatives from the body travelled to Iran early last year, triggering anger in the US which said it was still too early to do business with Tehran.

Fabius, who was seen to have taken a hawkish role in the negotiations, denied that French firms could suffer from this.

"We used to have a significant presence that was completely satisfactory for the Iranians ... and in diplomatic life, like in life in general, you never lose anything by being respected," he said.

He hailed last Tuesday's deal as "the most important diplomatic deal for a very long time."

On Monday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the deal.

In addition to opening up trade, the agreement has been touted as a chance for greater contact between the world powers and Iran over common interests.