Date : 05/02/2014
PARIS, Feb 5 (KUNA) -- France said on Wednesday that a large trade
delegation that is visiting Iran is a professional initiative by the
Employers' Federation (MEDEF) and is also only "an exploratory" mission and is
respecting international sanctions in place due to the nuclear stand-off with
Tehran.
French officials declined to confirm that US Secretary of State John Kerry
had called Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to express some concerns about the
French mission to Iran, which numbers over 100 people, including
representatives of Total oil company, Peugeot Automobiles and Lafarge
construction company.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said Fabius "speaks regularly with
his American counterpart to address all subjects on which we are working in
close cooperation with the United States."
He did not confirm a specific contact between Kerry and Fabius over the
French mission to Iran as had been reported.
Since the six-month nuclear agreement signed between Iran and the
international community (P5+1) in January, there is a limited easing of
international sanctions on Iran and many countries are gearing up for further
opening with that country if a more solid and durable nuclear agreement is
reached in June.
Nadal repeated that the visit by the MEDEF delegation is "an initiative by
this organisation" and is "exploratory and respects the international
commitments of France."
Reports from Tehran said that the French delegation was warmly welcomed by
Iranian officials and potential business partners but it remains to be seen
what concrete projects will emerge from the talks.
The US State Department has cautioned about overstepping the boundaries
with Iran, noting that the new easing of restrictions does not mean sanctions
have been lifted. Washington warned it could use its sanction power in such
cases and would target any country, allied or not, which violates the existing
sanctions. (end)
jk.mt
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