Iran’s deals with foreign firms flourish since easing of sanctions

Iran has signed a flurry of deals with foreign companies since the easing of international sanctions on Tehran in 2016 after it agreed to limits on its disputed nuclear program.

But US-Iranian tensions are rising again after President Donald Trump unveiled a more confrontational US policy toward Tehran, including an announcement that he will decertify the 2015 nuclear deal reached under his predecessor Barack Obama.

That would open a 60-day window in which Congress could reimpose sanctions that could undo the agreement.

Trump’s announcement could heighten caution among many Western and Asian companies that are planning to, or considering whether to, invest in the Iranian economy.

The Islamic Republic needs foreign investment for repairs and upgrades of oil and gas fields that deteriorated during a decade of isolation and also is seeking new technology for its oil industry.

Below is a list of deals and memoranda of understanding Iran has signed over the past year.

OIL AND GAS

• France’s Total, in November 2016, became the first oil major to sign a big deal with Tehran since the country was readmitted to international trade markets and agreed to help it develop the world’s largest gas field, South Pars.

• Shell signed a provisional deal in December to develop Iranian oil and gas fields South Azadegan, Yadavaran and Kish. But CEO Ben van Beurden said Shell had no near-term investment opportunities in Iran.

• Iran has named 29 companies from more than a dozen countries as being allowed to bid for oil and gas projects using a new, less restrictive contract model.

The firms include Shell, Total, Italy’s Eni, Malaysia’s Petronas and Russia’s Gazprom and Lukoil, as well as companies from China, Austria, Japan and other countries.

However, Iran’s first tender since the lifting of sanctions for developing its largest oilfield, Azadegan, has been postponed several times for unspecified reasons and is not expected to take place in 2017.

• Russia’s Zarubezhneft signed an MoU for a feasibility study on two joint fields in the west of Iran.

• Norway’s Aker Solutions signed an MoU to modernize the Iranian oil industry.

• Austria’s OMV signed an MoU in May for projects in the Zagros area of western Iran and the Fars field in the South.

• South Korea’s Daewoo Engineering and Construction signed an MoU to carry out construction of an oil refinery in Bandar Jask on the southern coast of Iran.

• Italy’s Saipem signed MoUs to cooperate on pipeline projects, upgrading of refineries and the development of the Tous gas field in the northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi.

• Norwegian oil and gas company DNO said it was the second western energy company after Total to sign a deal with Iran under which it agreed to study the development of the Changuleh oilfield in western Iran.

• Lukoil, Russia’s second biggest oil producer, hopes to reach a decision on developing two new oil fields in Iran.

• BASF’s Wintershall oil and gas exploration subsidiary signed an MoU with the National Iranian Oil Company in April 2016. In February this year, it said it was in talks with Iran about a possible investment of its oil and gas division in the country but no decision was in the cards because of uncertainty over the status of economic sanctions.

AVIATION

• Iran has set out plans to renew its aging fleet and invest in airport infrastructure to meet expectations of sharp growth in its underserved aviation market post-sanctions.

• Flagship carrier Iran Air has ordered 100 aircraft from Airbus and taken delivery of three.

• Boeing has a deal to sell 80 aircraft to Iran Air.

• Airbus and Boeing have received US export licenses to cover part of the deals, but bankers say doubts remain over the availability of financing because of fears of further sanctions.

• European turboprop maker ATR, half-owned by Airbus and Leonardo, sold 20 aircraft to Iran Air, which so far has taken six to serve regional cities.

• Aseman Airlines has agreed to buy 30 Boeing 737 MAX jets in Iran’s first new business with the US planemaker since Trump took office.

• Domestic carrier Zagros Airlines signed an MoU in June to buy 20 Airbus A320neo and eight A330neo aircraft.

• Privatized Iran Airtour signed an MoU in June for 45 Airbus A320neos.

RAILWAYS

• China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation, signed a €2.2 billion ($2.6b.) deal in May with Iran’s MAPNA for electrification of a high-speed rail line between Tehran and Mashhad.

• Iran’s state rail company and its Italian counterpart, Ferrovie dello Stato signed a final agreement worth €1.2b. in July to build a high-speed railway between the cities of Qom and Arak.

• French train maker and manufacturing group Alstom signed a deal in July for a joint venture that will build metro and suburban rail carriages in Iran.

• Germany’s Siemens signed a contract in October 2016 to upgrade Iran’s railway network. Siemens also will supply components for 50 diesel-electric locomotives to Iran.

AUTOMOTIVE

• French carmakers PSA and Renault have moved swiftly to sign new production deals to upgrade their pre-sanctions partnerships with Iran Khodro and SAIPA.

PSA has signed production deals worth €700 million, while Renault has announced a new plant investment to increase its production capacity to 350,000 vehicles a year.

The resumption of official sales in Iran helped PSA more than triple its Middle East and Africa deliveries in the first half of the year.

• Volkswagen said in July it would start exporting cars to Iran, returning to the resurgent market after more than 17 years.

• Trump’s stance against Iran has deepened the caution of German carmakers with large American exposures. BMW is among those that have put Iranian ambitions on hold.

However, Germany’s Mercedes-Benz Trucks signed a contract with Iran Khodro in September, laying the foundation for resuming distribution of its trucks in Iran.

BANKING

• Oberbank signed a deal with Iran in September that enables it to finance new ventures there and making it one of the first European banks to do so since sanctions were eased.

So far, however, major global banks have shied away from handling Iranian-related business, citing the risk of violating ongoing US sanctions. Among them is HSBC, which has said it has no intention of doing any new business involving Iran. (Reuters)