Economic message of Zarif's tour to Europe

In an article appeared in the Persian language newspaper, Iran, Fereydoun Majlesi said that achievements of Zarif’s diplomacy would in long-term have positive impacts on Iran’s economy.

The translated text of his article follows:

Shortly after the implementation of the landmark nuclear deal which was reached in February 2015 between Iran and the world six major powers (US, Britain, Russia, France and China plus Germany), Iran’s foreign minister started series of meetings with a number of the European officials in order to use diplomacy as a key means to maintain national interest.

Zarif started his tour to foreign countries in line with the government of President Hassan Rouhani unwavering policy to find diplomatic settlement to 12-year nuclear dispute with the world major and influential powers since Iran’s 11th Government took office in 2013 in the context of the nuclear talks with members of the Group 5+1.

The policy led to the opening of a new door to improve Tehran’s economic cooperation, particularly between Iran and Europe.

Iran gives great significance to the European countries for their specific status at the international arena and also for the importance they always attach to Tehran for its role in the region and its vast resources of energy.

As a leading influential bloc, the European Union states have been a major economic and political partner for Iran.

Given the change of heart by the European states towards Iran which was the outcome of three years of diplomatic efforts made by the government of President Rouhani for normalization of Tehran’s relations with other countries, Zarif is to properly use the opportunities provided for Iran and other negotiating parties to the nuclear dispute after the Joint Plan of Action took effect in January 2015.

Zarif is to use the opportunities to help Iran restore its status at the international arena as a country which enjoys normal economic and political relations with the outside world.

It is clear that the objectives of Zarif’s diplomatic efforts are to speed up economic ties with the key and influential countries not those remained unchanged toward Iran.

Zarif’s intensive and constant consultations with his counterparts and the Western and European leaders would become more meaningful when we notice that the JCPOA has serious opponents who are pursuing new scenarios (after they failed to sabotage the nuclear talks) to portray Iran as an unsafe place for foreign investments maintaining that the sanctions are still in force and accusing Iran of being one of the advocates of terrorism.
They believe that such scenarios will stop Western financial institutes of doing business with Iran.

Zarif’s strong presence in Europe along with various economic delegations in the post-JCPOA era send a message to the world nations that despite the false propaganda made by foreign opponents of the nuclear deal, Iran is a stable and safe country committed to the International Law and regulations and full-prepared to economic ties with other countries in different fields.

The end of Iran’s diplomatic isolation, the remarkable increase of its oil trade, boosting domestic product to the level of pre-JCPOA era, and transfer of Iran’s oil money to the country in form of euro or other reliable foreign currencies are all examples of short-term achievements of JCPOA, the settlement of the nuclear dispute by diplomacy and normalizing Iran’s foreign relations with outside world.
These achievements would have long-term positive impacts on Iran’s economic development on the one hand, and aborting the scenarios made by opponents of the nuclear deal, on the other.

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