Hassan Rouhani goes to Paris as ties with Europe improve

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (centre) waves to photographers during his visit to the Colosseum in Rome on Wednesday. — AFP

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wrapped up a visit to Italy on Wednesday before heading to France on the second leg of a trip signalling Tehran’s rapprochement with Europe after sanctions were lifted against the Islamic Republic.

Mr Rouhani’s visit to Paris is expected to result in the signing of major business contracts, on the heels of multi-billion-dollar deals in Italy.

An order for 114 Airbus planes to modernise Iran Air’s ageing fleet is expected to be confirmed in France, along with tie-ups with carmakers Peugeot and Renault.

Mr Rouhani concluded his two-day trip to Rome with a visit to the Colosseum with Italian culture minister Dario Franceschini and a press conference.

Asked whether Iran would apologise to Saudi Arabia for an attack on its embassy that led to Riyadh cutting diplomatic ties with Tehran, Mr Rouhani said it was not up to his country to make a move for reconciliation. “Why should we apologise, because (activist and Shia cleric) Nimr al-Nimr was executed We are the ones to apologise because they are killing the people of Yemen Apologise to them because they are helping terrorists ” he said.

“They are the ones who should apologise to Muslim people, hundreds of times.”

The President is accompanied by a delegation of more than 100 ministers, officials and businessmen marking the return of Iran on the international economic stage with the lifting of sanctions after a historic deal over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Mr Rouhani, a 67-year-old former academic and diplomat who is seen as a pragmatist, was elected in 2013 on a pledge to end sanctions and improve relations with the West.

The Iranian leader on Monday met with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, with whom he attended the signing of several economic agreements.

Officials said contracts signed in Rome would be worth up to $18.4 billion, underlining the huge economic stakes involved in Iran’s re-opening, particularly for Europe’s manufacturing and engineering sectors.