Iran welcomes French business chiefs after sanctions eased

By Mehrdad Balali and Parisa Hafezi DUBAI/ANKARA (Reuters) – Iran welcomed the most senior French trade delegation in years on Monday, telling more than 100 executives that the far-sighted among them stood to win the race for business following an easing of some economic sanctions. “A new chapter has begun in relations between Iran and Europe,” Mohammad Nahavandi an, President Hassan Rouhani’s chief of staff, was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency. “You should carry the message back that potential for cooperation with Iran is real and not to be overlooked,” he told the delegation. A source close to the delegation told Reuters it was the most senior group of entrepreneurs and financiers to visit Iran since the 1979 revolution, representing the defense, aviation, petrochemicals, automotive, shipping and cosmetics sectors.