Former French FM: Tehran, Paris resolved to expand ties

Former French Foreign Minister Hervé de Charette underlined Tehran and Paris’s important roles in regional equations, and said the French and Iranian officials are resolved to further develop the two states' bilateral relations. “We will hear highly positive news about the relations between Iran and France in coming days since the two sides enjoy the political resolve to do so,” De Charette told reporters after meeting Iranian Supreme Leader's top aide Ali Akbar Velayati in Tehran on Saturday. “I am highly optimistic about the relations between Iran and France,” he added. The former French top diplomat stressed that the new atmosphere and measures adopted by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani have paved the ground for progress in the relations between Tehran and Paris after a long time. He also underscored the two countries’ important roles in regional developments, and said, “We should continue our efforts to find a solution to the Syrian crisis and Iran and France’s roles are important to this end.” Earlier this year, former Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Ali Asqar Khaji and French Foreign Ministry Director General for North Africa and Middle East Affairs Jean Francois Giroux in a meeting in Tehran discussed bilateral ties and regional developments. During the meeting in Tehran in May, Khaji pointed to Iran’s prominent position in the region and the country’s efforts to promote regional and international peace and stability, and said, "Tehran seeks to enhance its cooperation and interaction with the European countries, including France, based on its own diplomatic principles." Giroux, for his part, underlined the importance of Iran's influential role in the regional developments and called for continuation of bilateral talks between Iran and France. Giroux, heading a high-ranking delegation, arrived in Tehran to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments, Syria in particular, with senior Iranian officials. Also earlier this month, a senior trade official announced that a team of French investors and traders are slated to visit Tehran in coming weeks to study investment opportunities in Iran. “A delegation of French investors will travel to Iran later this month to hold talks with officials of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO),”  Iranian Deputy Industry, Mines and Trade Minister Mehdi Karbasiyan said. He stressed that the French investors will be presented with a broad spectrum of mining and steel projects so that they can participate in these projects as joint ventures with Iranians. Karbasiyan noted that Iran is currently in the process of concluding agreements with investors for its key steel production plans, which ushers in a significant leap in the implementation of national steel and mining projects.