Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi and UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammondhave exchanged viewpoints on the banking restrictions facing Iranand a new dawn for the country'seconomy after nuclear-related sanctions were lifted following the landmark agreement between Tehran and the six world powers.
During a meeting in London on Thursday evening, the pair explored avenues for the further expansion of Iran-Britain economic and trade relations, and stressed the need for the swift removal of all banking hurdles and the full implementation of the nuclear deal struckbetween Iran and the P5+1 group of countries lastJuly.
"Although many issues were resolvedand manybanks resumed theirrelations with Iranafter theimplementation ofthe JointComprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), big banks are yet to returntodo business with us. Thisissue was specifically brought up during talks with the chancellor of the exchequer, Salehi told reporters after his meeting with Hammond.
Salehi further pointed to the measures being adopted by Britains top business official saying, I assume that they are trying to clear the hurdles and findsolutions to the existing problems.
"The work is progressingand the problems are being dealt withseriously so that they are swiftly resolved,"the senior Iranian official said.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"]
Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi (L) meets with European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Brussels, Belgium, on September 15, 2016.[/caption]Earlier on Thursday, Salehi discussed the implementation of the nuclear agreementwith European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Brussels.
Salehi reaffirmed Irans full commitment to its obligations under the JCPOA, saying Tehranexpects the other side to do the same.
The two officials also emphasized the need for necessary measures in order to open up Iran's business environment to the global markets, and facilitate European investors engagement with Iran.
Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia plus Germany finalized the text of the JCPOA in Vienna, Austria, on July 14, 2015. They started implementing the agreement on January 16.
Under the deal, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the Security Council and the US would be lifted. Iran has, in return, put some limitations on its nuclear activities.
However, many large European banks still refrain from engaging in transactions with Iran for fear of US penalties.
By Press TV
