Iran: Knocking on Tehran’s door
Euromoney, is part of the Delinian Group, Delinian Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX, Registered in England & Wales, Company number 00954730
Copyright © Delinian Limited and its affiliated companies 2024
Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement
BANKING

Iran: Knocking on Tehran’s door

The lifting of sanctions meant a stream of international banks would make their way to Iran, right? Wrong. Some banks admit they are taking the first steps on the road to Tehran. Others might be, but they certainly do not want to talk about it. And in either case, there are plenty of barriers to getting there.

welcome-to-iran-300

Illustration: David Manion

Euromoney has travelled to one of Europe’s grandest capital cities for an interview with three bank executives who recently went on a trade mission to Iran. When we arrive, the bank’s communication officer is ashen-faced. She is really sorry, but at the last minute the compliance department has vetoed Euromoney’s meeting. The feeling is that it is not appropriate to be talking about it.

Why? Doing business with Iran is now legal again. The sanctions have been removed by the EU and UN and suspended by the US. The rules are reasonably clear; keep your trade out of dollars and your counterparties well out of the remaining sanctions list entities and you will be OK. 

European corporates are clearly comfortable with it all. Daimler, Peugeot and Airbus are just a few of the bigger names among a glut of European multinationals keen to re-engage with an exciting new market. 

But western banks are not following them in – or even talking about the possibility of following them in. 

“It is still very difficult to receive payments from or transfer funds into Iran,” says Silke Waters, a spokesperson at Daimler in Stuttgart, which announced a truck manufacturing deal with automotive company Iran Khodro shortly after sanctions were lifted. 

Gift this article