Iran Building Bilateral Relations: When Rouhani Was in Rome

Iran’s President Rouhani visited Rome to rebuild economic ties, a series of deals were signed and promises made.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani is on a four-day Euro visit post the nuclear sanctions being cleared after many years. (Photo: AP)

After Iranian president Hassan Rouhani’s two-day visit to Rome starting Monday, he now proceeds to visit France. His travel to the West comes after the nuclear accord being signed, leaving ‘great possibilities’ for economic, academic, scientific and cultural cooperation.

Italy signed deals worth up to $18.4 billion with Iran during President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to Rome.

The accords cover various sectors, including energy and steel, and underscore the potential business bonanza on offer for European firms following the lifting of crippling financial sanctions on Tehran earlier this month.

Rouhani flew into Rome at the head of a delegation of more than 100 businessmen and ministers.

Strengthening Economic Ties

• Italian firms poised to sign commercial accords worth between 15 billion to 17 billion euros.
• Deal with oil service group Saipen worth between $4 billion and $5 billion.
• Steel firm Danieli to sign commercial agreements worth up to $ 5.7 billion.

Italy has traditionally had close economic ties with Tehran. With that in sight, a government source said Italian firms were poised to sign commercial accords worth between 15 billion to 17 billion euros.

These included a deal for Italian oil services group Saipem for a 2,000 km pipeline worth between $4 billion and $5 billion, a source with knowledge of the matter said.

In addition, Italian steel firm Danieli will sign commercial agreements worth up to $5.7 billion with Iran, a company spokesman said. These accords will include a joint venture, to be called Persian Metallics, with other international investors, worth $2 billion.

Rouhani addressed a conference of entrepreneurs and industrial leaders in Rome on Tuesday.

Italy’s Renzi Says New Business Accords with Iran “Just the Beginning”

Business agreements Italy signed with Iran on Monday are “just the beginning” for the two countries, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (L) and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. (Photo: AP)

Renzi was speaking alongside Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who was in Rome at the start of his first visit to Europe, which came less than two weeks after crippling economic sanctions on Tehran were lifted.

Rouhani Says Italy’s Renzi Will Visit Iran in Coming Months

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will visit Iran in the coming months to boost economic ties, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tweeted on Tuesday, during a visit to Rome that has yielded billions of dollars of business deals.

Rouhani is on a four-day visit to Italy and France, where he is looking to rebuild Iran’s ties with the West and promote his country as a pillar of strength and stability in an increasingly fraught and fragmented region.

Pope Asks Iran to Work for Mideast Peace, Stop Spread of Terrorism

Pope Francis on Tuesday met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and asked Tehran to work with other Middle East states to promote peace and stop the spread of terrorism and arms trafficking in the region.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani (L) and Pope Francis (R). (Photo: AP)

A Vatican statement issued after the meeting spoke of the “relevant role Iran is called on to play” to find political solutions to the problems afflicting the Middle East, specifically mentioning terrorism and weapons trafficking.

Rouhani Says up to US to Improve Relations with Tehran

Iran could have better relations with the United States, but it was up to Washington to change its “hostile” stance towards Tehran, President Rouhani said on Wednesday.

<p>It’s possible that Iran and the United states might have friendly relations. But the key to that is in Washington’s hands, not Tehran’s. </p>

Rouhani continues his first trip to Europe since the lifting of sanctions.