Iran’s deputy minister of trade, mine and industry says Iran is ready to export commodities to the European Union.
“Once sanctions are lifted, we will be able to export a considerable part of our products to Europe,” Valiollah Afkhami Rad told the Mehr News Agency.“Iranian goods have already found their way to the EU markets, with Italy joining Iran’s top 10 export partners,” said the Iranian official.
He also expressed the hope that the level of Iran and EU trade would return to the pre-sanction era.Economic ties between Iran and the European Union were largely affected by sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear energy program.Total EU imports from Iran dropped by 86% between 2012-13, with EU exports falling by 26% during the same period.In recent months, several trade delegations from EU countries have traveled to Iran to review investment opportunities in the country.Major Western companies, including energy giants, have been keeping a close eye on Iran, waiting for the removal of sanctions against the country to reach its lucrative markets.Iran and the group P5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China plus Germany) are currently in talks over Tehran’s nuclear program.The two sides are seeking to finalize a nuclear deal by the end of June which envisages the lifting of certain economic sanctions against Iran in return for certain moves by the country to restrict some of its nuclear energy activities.