Companies all over the world are parading to position themselves to do business with the Islamic Regime in Iran (IRI). American and European companies are jockeying to be the first in line as some sanctions are suspended and negotiations are underway for a deal that will ease and eventually remove sanctions if IRI agrees to curb its nuclear program.
Almost 600 foreign firms from Germany, Spain, Canada, Japan, and China have taken part in the 19th annual International Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Exhibition in Tehran Oil Fair compared to 195 in the previous year [1]. Representatives from France's Total and the German's Siemens were among the participants. At least five companies with U.S.-government contracts attended the show and at least twenty of the companies attending the oil show maintain a U.S. presence [2].
Australian oil-and-gas giant OMV has announced that it is in the process of renewing a 22 billion EUR deal with the IRI. OMV Executive Director Gerhard Roiss has already met with the Iranian Oil Minister to arrange the new deals [3].
A delegation of 110 members of MEDEF -- France's largest employers' union -- resume talks with IRI in February 2014 [4].
The surge of flights to Iran clearly reflects overwhelming eagerness to deal with the IRI [5]. Austrian Airlines has announced that it will resume five weekly flights to Tehran. Lufthansa has announced that it is considering adding more seats to its daily flights. Turkish Airlines is also seeking permission to add flights to Iran.
The International Auto Market is also embracing new deals with the IRI. Based on the statements made by their representatives, they are following the negotiations with great interest. France's PSA Peugeot Citroen and Renault, in particular, stand to gain from renewing their once sizable Iran activities. Iran Khodro, the giant car manufacturer, is already planning to engage in new joint projects with foreign car makers [5].
Reports by Foreign Policy show that over 100 German companies are currently doing business in Iran and "their European rivals are scrambling to catch up." These investments have been estimated to worth as much as $20 billion [6].
As soon as the IRI agrees to curb its nuclear program, these deals will be finalized. This economic power can keep the IRI in power and in turn it will empower them to continue their religious dictatorship.
Iranian expatriates have two options. They can remain silent, trapped by the IRI's lobby groups and intimidated with their false war-peace scenario, and ignore the tragedy that is shaped before their eyes. Their other option is to challenge the deals with the IRI by participating in the political process. They can support the U.S. senate bill S. 1881 [7], the European Parliament Resolution [8], and add the condition to release all political prisoners to the atomic condition of sanctions.
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