By staff and agency

France, Germany agree to host payment channel to Iran

France and Germany have agreed to host the special vehicle purpose (SPV), a special payment channel created by Europe as part of its efforts to keep trade flowing with Iran in defiance of U.S. sanctions.

Germany’s Oliver Meier: Bolton’s claim that Iran has violated UNSCR 2231 is ‘factually wrong’

TEHRAN - Oliver Meier, the deputy head of International Security Division of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), has said that UN Security Council Resolution 2231 does not prohibit Iran from missile testing activities, therefore the claim by the U.S. hat Iran has violated the resolution are unfounded.

WFP welcomes German contribution to support refugees in Iran

TEHRAN – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a supplementary contribution of €1 million (approximately US$1.1 million) from the German Federal Foreign Office to support the most vulnerable Afghan and Iraqi refugees living in settlements in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Iranian-German team studying prehistoric climate of Iran

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian and German researchers has commenced a survey in the plain of Varamin, Tehran province, to uncover clues about Iran’s climate in the prehistoric times, IRNA reported on Saturday.

German court rules in favor of Iranian bank

TEHRAN – A court in Germany has ordered Deutsche Telekom, a partly state-owned telecom provider, to reactivate phone and internet service for the Hamburg branch of Bank Melli Iran, Press TV reported on Friday, citing Der Spiegel.

France, Germany may host payment channel aimed at bypassing sanctions on Iran

France and Germany will likely host the Special Vehicle Purpose (SPV), a special payment channel created by Europe as part of its efforts to keep trade flowing with Iran in defiance of U.S. sanctions, senior diplomats told the Wall Street Journal.

By Javad Heirannia

Transatlantic differences justify European efforts to become more autonomous: Finaud 

TEHRAN - Marc Finaud, the former French Foreign Ministry spokesman, says that “the reasons why France and Germany saw an interest in developing further EU strategic autonomy were related to the apparent reduced American interest in transatlantic solidarity, and the prospect of the United Kingdom leaving the EU, because the UK was one of the two leading military powers in Europe but always opposed any progress towards a ‘European army’.”

Iranian ambassador to Berlin bids farewell

TEHRAN – The mission of the Iranian ambassador to Berlin officially came to an end on Saturday, Mehr reported.

Iran, Europe to continue nuclear cooperation

TEHRAN - Behrooz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), has said that Iran and Europe will continue their nuclear cooperation in the next two years.

Zarif holds phone talks with 4 top European diplomats

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has held phone conversations with EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini as well as his counterparts from Germany, Sweden and Denmark to discuss the nuclear deal and other issues.

By Hanif Ghaffari

Germany and the puzzle of JCPOA

TEHRAN - The current dispute raised between senior German officials over Iran nuclear deal can be analyzed in different dimensions As reported by Handensblatt, the German business newspaper, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas recently mentioned that Europe and the U.S.

Iran, Germany discuss loan of TMCA Western collection to Berlin show again

TEHRAN – The plan to loan a collection of Western art from the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (TMCA) for a show at Berlin’s National Gallery was discussed once again in a meeting held on Sunday between German Ambassador Michael Klor-Berchtold and Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi, the culture ministry announced.

By Saeed Sobhani

What Is Europe's Strategy on the JCPOA?

TEHRAN - The disputes over the "future of the nuclear deal" are still ongoing. The analysis of this conflict is not so easy, considering the remarkable relations between Washington and Europe. In other words, Western officials look at the nuclear deal not as an "independent legal variable", but as a "dependent political variable".

Iran summons German ambassador over extradition of diplomat

TEHRAN – Lamenting Germany’s extradition of an Iranian diplomat to Belgium, months after he was arrested on suspicion of plotting a bomb attack on a meeting of Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) in Paris, the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned the German ambassador to Tehran.

Rouhani: Iran-Germany co-op can serve world peace

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that Iran and Germany play effective roles in their respective regions and have great potential for cooperate in order find peaceful resolutions for global challenges.

German FM: Europe stands by Iran in nuclear deal

TEHRAN – German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass on Friday highlighted the need to maintain trade with Tehran, saying Europe unanimously stands by Iran in the nuclear deal, officially called the JCPOA.

Maximum pressure on Iran risks regional escalation: Germany

TEHRAN – The United States’ strategy of applying maximum pressure on Iran will not work alone and carries the risk of a regional escalation, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

EU and Iran agree on new payment system to skirt U.S. sanctions

In a major snub to the United States, the European Union (EU) has decided to set up a new mechanism to enable legal trade with Iran without encountering U.S. sanctions. 

By Mahmood Khaghani

EU, Iran clearing the way for business and trade

The news that Germany, France & UK are actively considering a “Clearing House” to facilitate Iran's global commerce is probably the most important development in financial & energy markets for many years.

Europe looks to thwart Trump’s Iran sanctions

Europe’s biggest economic powers are planning to create a “special purpose” financial company to thwart U.S. President Donald Trump’s sanctions and help Iran to continue to sell oil in the EU.

EU seeks to bypass U.S. sanctions on Iran with trade finance tool

EU powers are in talks over launching a payments channel that would enable European companies to trade with Iran as part of efforts to defy U.S. sanctions and keep alive a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran.

Germany looking at payment system with Iran to save nuclear deal

BERLIN - Germany and its European partners are considering setting up a payment system with Iran that allows the continuation of business transactions with the Islamic Republic once U.S. sanctions kick in, an economy ministry spokeswoman said on Friday.

By staff and agency

Russian, German diplomats discuss nuclear deal

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Antje Leendertse, director of the political directorate-general of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, discussed the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Iran to open consular office in Bonn

TEHRAN – In a cabinet meeting on Wednesday headed by President Hassan Rouhani, the cabinet members agreed to a proposal by the Foreign Ministry to establish a consular section in the city of Bonn, Germany.

Germany’s Durion Energy AG to stay in Iran despite U.S. sanctions: CEO

TEHRAN- The CEO of Germany’s renewable energy company, Durion Energy AG, said his company will not stop working in Iran despite the U.S.-led sanctions against the country, Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday.

By Hanif Ghaffari

Does Europe make its decisive decision?

Officials from three European countries, Germany, Britain and France, have also delayed offering their package to maintain a nuclear deal with Iran. This delay, b, has been quite purposeful. However, it should be noted that Europe has little chance of gaining the trust of the Iranian people! The trust of Iranians in the three European countries after their accompaniment with Tramp in a nuclear ambitions change has largely disappeared.

Germany: We don’t let U.S. dictate trade ties with Iran

TEHRAN – German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier on Sunday criticized the U.S. sanctions against Iran, the first set of which came into force last Monday. 

EU regrets U.S. sanctions on Iran, vows to protect European businesses

The European Union said Monday it deeply regretted the U.S.' reimposition of sanctions on Iran after President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear pact, and vowed immediate steps to protect European companies.

Snobbish GOP letter warns Germany, France, UK against bypassing sanctions on Iran 

U.S. senators from the Republican Party have sent a letter to the embassies of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom in the United States with a warning against any possible moves to circumvent the Trump administration’s sanctions against Iran, the news portal t-online.de reported on Sunday.

Over 1.1m Iranians visited Turkey in H1

TEHRAN – A total of 1.159 million Iranian nationals visited Turkey during the first half of 2018.