Baku, Azerbaijan, August 24
By Khalid Kazimov -- Trend:
Britain is drafting a bill about removing economic sanctions on Iran , Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce Mohsen Jalalpour said.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Secretary to the UK Treasury Greg Hands, he criticized the UK for unfriendly behavior during the years Iran was under sanctions, Mehr news agency reported August 24.
He noted that after the harsh years, now Iranian industrial companies are very cautious in buying British machinery and technology, because in case political vibe worsens again, it is them who has to suffer the consequences.
The British government and companies have to do a lot to make that mindset go away, he said.
" Britain is drafting a bill on removing the sanctions and revising a bill on double-purpose goods deals. The way the UK conducts cooperation and consultation with Iranian sides will be the first step toward removing that negative outlook," Jalalpour underlined.
"The sanctions have forced British enterprises out of the Iranian market in favor of their rivals. Today it is not easy to compete with enterprises which became our partners during the sanctions era."
After many years under sanctions, Iran signed a comprehensive deal with the group P5+1 (the US, UK , France , Russia , China , and Germany ) on July 14 which will remove the sanctions.
Anticipating the reopening of the Iranian market to the world, many foreign companies and officials have visited Iran in recent months to seek trade opportunities.
The British delegation is the most recent European team of politicians and businessmen to have visited Iran , headed to Tehran by Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond on August 23.