No Restrictions on Economic Ties with US: Iran’s Spokesman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Spokesman for the Iranian Administration Mohammad Baqer Nobakht announced that the country sees no restrictions on the expansion of economic relations between Tehran and Washington in the post-sanctions era, but the priority is with investments and imports of modern technologies.
“Our political ties with this country (the United States) are well-defined and require fundamental changes in their (Americans') policy,” Nobakht said in a Saturday interview with Al-Alam TV.
“As regards economic issues, however, we do not attaches any restrictions,” the Iranian spokesman said in response to a question on Tehran’s possible economic ties with the US.
Nobakht went on to say that investments and imports of modern technologies will be Iran’s top priorities in the economic ties with the US.
In similar remarks on Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said there is not any obstacle for Americans to invest in Iran, noting that Tehran welcomes US investment in technological fields and joint production.
Speaking at a press conference in the Italian capital of Rome, he added that any possible problem in the way of joint economic cooperation derives from the US’s own regulations.
Rouhani did not rule out the possibility of a thaw in relations between Tehran and Washington, but made it clear that the key to the normalization of ties is in the hands of the US, not Iran.
“Establishment of non-hostile relations, without tensions, between the two countries (Iran and the US) is possible, but its key is in Washington not in Tehran,” President Rouhani said.
The remarks came against the backdrop of the nuclear deal between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) which took effect on January 16.
The agreement, known as the JCPOA, has terminated all nuclear-related sanctions on Iran, reopened the doors of foreign investment to the country’s market, and prepared the ground for a much-anticipated economic boom.
