MP: Iran welcomes foreign companies’ investments
Iran definitely supports and welcomes those foreign companies that demonstrate the courage to come and invest in the country despite US threats and sanctions, said an Iranian MP.
Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, made the remark in an exclusive interview with Iran Daily, commenting on the move by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to invite Western and European countries to make investments in Iran.
He noted that Western countries are not defined solely in terms of their governments, adding companies also have special status in these states.
Shifting to US sanctions, the lawmaker said, “Americans fail to know any other policy in their relations with Iran except [imposing] sanctions. Over the past four decades, we have gotten used to US sanctions and have constantly turned the threats posed by them into opportunities. The sanctions have helped us expand a large number of our capabilities over the past years.”
Confirming Iran’s commitment to the terms of the JCPOA, he noted, “Based on the principle of reciprocity, which is an international, accepted and important axiom, we cooperate with those countries that fulfill their commitments under the JCPOA.”
He added Tehran is closely cooperating with Russia and China as they are honoring their commitments under the Iran nuclear deal.
Commenting on the European states’ commitment to the JCPOA, he said their efforts to preserve the deal have so far been limited to words. They have taken no practical step to save the deal. That is why we strongly oppose their behavior.
He, however, added the door is open to negotiations with the European states, as Iran has so far continued its talks on the JCPOA with Europe.
Turning to recent talks between Tehran and Paris, Boroujerdi said, “France has so far put in a weak performance regarding its JCPOA commitments. Britain and Germany have also failed to honor their pledges under the agreement.”
Touching upon INSTEX – a European payment system for trade with Iran – he said it constitutes only part of the Europeans’ commitments under the JCPOA, not of all them.
“As per the JCPOA and its terms and conditions, we must be able to easily export our oil to any country.”
INSTEX was designed and set up by France, Britain and Germany, in the form of a special purpose vehicle to circumvent US sanctions.
He stressed that INSTEX is in fact a payment facilitating mechanism, adding, however, the extent to which Europeans have exaggerated it and blown their own trumpet about its benefits makes it look like as if its operationalization is tantamount to the fulfillment of all their commitments under the JCPOA.
Stressing that Europe is required to fully meet its commitments under the deal, Boroujerdi said Iran’s oil export is the main target of US sanctions.
Thus, Europeans should make a decision about it and help reduce US irrational and abnormal pressures on Iran in this field, he added. “They have, nevertheless, failed to do that so far.”
Goodwill means honoring commitments, the Iranian MP said, adding the activation of INSTEX mechanism is in fact the least Europe can do to show its goodwill toward Iran.
On Iran’s preconditions for remaining in the deal, he said, “Safeguarding our national interests is of the utmost importance to us. The reason we accepted some limitations in the process of signing the JCPOA was to minimize the cruel and unjust economic pressures on our people. However, if these pressures are to continue, we will naturally refrain from fulfilling our commitments.”
The reimposition of US sanctions are practically a blow to Iran’s national interests and violated the country’s rights, Boroujerdi noted.
“The US began the move. Europeans failed to resist US pressures in this regard. And, consequently, this jeopardized our national interests and deprived us of a major part of our rights under the deal.”
Source: Iran Daily