Malta Seeks to Rekindle Trade Ties with Iran

zoom Malta seems to be interested in rekindling trade relations with Iran as talks on potential lifting of sanctions against Iran gain momentum. Namely, officials in Malta Freeport are said to have approached Iranian national shipping line IRISL seeking to convince it to return to Malta, the Times of Malta writes. The company was Freeports second biggest client prior to the sanctions imposed by the Western powers in 2012, which has in turn deeply affected the ports operations. According to the newspaper, both Germany and France have set their sights on renewing trade relations with Iran by sending their business delegates to the country to explore trade opportunities. Germany hosted talks with Iran’s Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh last month on investments in oil, gas and petrochemical industries. The resource-rich country voiced its intentions to bring back shipping lines to Irans ports. Managing Director of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) Muhammad Saeid-Nejad has met with the senior executives of major international shipping lines active in Europe and Asia, and talked about the resumption of their commercial interaction with the sea ports of Iran. Eight international shipping lines have already started calling at the countrys southern ports. Iran is expected to seal the deal with six powers by June 30 that would relieve the sanctions against the country, that saw IRISLs fleet of 170 vessels barred from the international waters and international companies prohibited from calling Iranian ports. World Maritime News Staff