Rouhani ready to ‘turn the page’ in Iran-France relations

Iranian president urges all sides to take advantage of ‘positive atmosphere’ after removal of sanctions

By AFP 28 January 2016, 1:58 pm

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French Prime Minister Manuel Valls (L) shakes hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on January 28, 2016 during a meeting at the French employers association MEDEF headquarters in Paris. (AFP/ERIC FEFERBERG)

PARIS — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called Thursday for a new relationship with France as he met business leaders on a trip to Paris to revive economic ties after sanctions on his country were lifted.

“We are ready to turn the page” and establish a “new relationship between our countries,” Rouhani said at a meeting organized by the Medef employers’ association.

“Let us forget the resentment,” he said, calling for all sides to take advantage of the “positive atmosphere” after the removal of the sanctions.

A raft of commercial deals are expected to be signed during Rouhani’s visit.

French carmaker Peugeot announced its official return to Iran with a deal to produce 200,000 cars a year, and Rouhani is expected to announce Tehran’s intention to buy more than 100 passenger planes from European aircraft maker Airbus.