American companies in contacts with Iranian counterparts have expressed their willingness to return to the Islamic Republic, said an Oil Ministry official.
In an interview with Iran Petroleum Monthly, Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs and Commerce Amir-Hossein Zamani-Nia said that the nuclear Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed by Iran and P5+1 has a direct impact on the oil industry and serves as a prelude to help Iran achieve the standing it used to have in the region and world.
"With JCPOA still neither approved nor implemented, the countries which had sanctioned Iran have queued up to enter into negotiations with Iranian officials and companies to invest here. The competition among applying countries for investment in Iran's oil industry indicates our political stability and security. Their interest for activity in Iran also shows the significance of the industry."
Responding to a question about the visit to Iran by a large and high-ranking German business delegation headed by Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Sigmar Gabriel only few days after the July 14 nuclear agreement, he said, the visit was arranged in a meeting between Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and Gabriel on the sidelines of the Munich energy security conference before the July-14 deal was reached.
It sent waves of shock to Europe, he added, as trade delegations from France, Italy, Austria and Spain followed the German delegation's visit.
"Visits by EU member states indicated their governments' support for oil firms' presence in Iran industries, including oil, as well as sending a clear message to US Congress that if they take illogical and unwise decisions, they will be sidelined because European firms are determined to return to Iran."
To another question on French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius' visit, Zamani-Nia replied, "French companies, particularly Total, have long history of ties with Iran's oil industry. Despite US sanctions, Total cooperated with Iran which Zanganeh pointed out in the meeting with Fabius."
He added, "Despite oppositions at the beginning of nuclear talks, the French were eager on trade ties with Iran. Now, Iran and Total have negotiated directly and this will continue in future."
Describing his talks with counterparts in neighboring Turkmenistan on technical engineering services and petrochemical projects as promising, the deputy minister added, negotiations with the visiting Italian and Japanese delegations have also been constructive and successful.
"We are not after taking revenge from the countries that left Iran immediately after sanctions were imposed," Zamani-Nia said in reference to Japanese firms, adding that they acted conservatively but are very prompt in carrying out their commitments.
According to the official, trade teams from neighboring Iraq, Kuwait and UAE have also expressed willingness to visit Iran, while for economic, political and security reasons, the Islamic Republic regards them its best partners as they are in need of Iran's gas.
Zamani-Nia also played down the impact of Iran's higher crude oil production on the market saying an increase of one million barrels per day will not have a great impact on the prices. "Of course, Iran hopes that OPEC members will open a space for Iran's increased quota in world markets," he added.