President Hassan Rouhani of Iran recently invited American investors to put their money in his country as he ended his three-day deal-making in Italy. He stated that the lifting of sanctions by European countries opened a new era of 'win-win' collaboration.
The Iranian president also told the press that he also talked Tuesday to Pope Francis regarding the need for religious leaders to speak out against terrorism and extremism.
But he also qualified his call by saying it "doesn't mean offending that which is sacred to other people's faith." He was apparently referring to Charlie Hebdo, a satirical newspaper in France which has published a number of cartoons that made fun of the Muslims.
President Rouhani also went to Paris on Wednesday in the second leg of his European tour to promote Iran's opening of trading with the world's major economies after the recent lifting of the country's nuclear-related sanctions.
"We don't see any obstacles for companies that would want to come and invest in Iran," Rouhani told a group of French business leaders, through an interpreter. "Iran is ready for investments," he added.
The Iranian president was accompanied in his trip to Paris by Mohammad Javad Zariff, the Iranian Foreign Minister. They met with French Economy Minister Emmanual Macron and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.
In addition, the Iranian president hosted a meeting with the leaders of France's business community in his Paris hotel.
Rouhani's European trip took him first to Italy, and lastly to France. Although it is primarily geared towards encouraging European investment in Iran, he appears to make the most of the occasion by also attracting U.S. investors as well.
Iran's economy has halted almost entirely since the sanctions were applied several years ago. By inviting American businesses to join their European counterparts in investing in his country, Rouhani seems to be trying to undo all the financial woes of those years.
