Iran attracts ‘$2b in foreign investment’ in 100 days

He added that the investments have been attracted for 37 projects of the country’s medium and small industries.

This proves that, in spite of all US pressures, in the atmosphere created after the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), there is a keen interest among other countries in investing in Iran, the minister added.

The remarks come against the backdrop of a new wave of interest in ties with Iran after Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14, 2015 reached a conclusion over the text of the comprehensive 159-page deal on Tehran’s nuclear program and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.

The nuclear agreement terminated all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran.

However, Iranian officials have complained about the failure of the other side, especially the US, to fully implement the accord, as Iran still has problems in its banking transactions with other countries.

IRISL is Iran’s largest operator with a fleet of 158 container vessels, dry bulk carriers and tankers. According to Saeedi, Iran currently has 41 container ships of up to 14,000 TEU, but it wants to join the big league and Triple Es are a priority.

The country also owns the world’s largest fleet of oil supertankers consisting of 42 VLCCS, each able to carry 2 million barrels of oil.

Iran’s shipping was among the first sectors hit by a Us-led sanctions regime which barred its liners from calling at US and European ports but since the dismantling of that regime, the country has been working to extend its forward coverage to all corners of the world.

Once it has built up a sufficient capacity, IRISL plans to forge an alliance with the world’s top 15 container operators which control the busiest lanes by sharing vessels, networks and port calls, the official has said.

Under a five-year development plan, Iran seeks to turn IRISL to one of the top 10 largest shipping companies. Saeedi said the country is tapping both domestic and foreign capabilities to achieve that goal.

The official said in October 2015 that IRISL was in talks with Chinese banks for loan assistance, conditional on the construction of the new vessels in China’s shipyards.