Noting that Iran is now on the eve of implementing the JCPOA which is expected to lift sanctions on the country, Seif said that imposition of Western sanctions put heavy pressure on the country’s banking system.

‘Since the banking system has been under pressure for years, it will face main challenges in meeting banking standards,’ Seif said.

Although the Iranian banking system has made progress, this growth has been made in a closed or so-called greenhouse area which has inflicted much costs on the country, he said.

Schroeder made the comments in a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday.
The German dignitary expressed satisfaction over approaching to the final stages on implementing the nuclear Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
German businessmen, entrepreneurs and managers of companies are ready for economic and industrial cooperation with Iran in all sectors, he said.
Both Germany and Europe are hopeful that after closure of Iran’s nuclear dossier to make use of Iran’s potentials in resolving regional crisis, he added.
In the meeting, the Iranian foreign minister explained Tehran’s policy in dealing with latest developments in the relations with Saudi Arabia, current crisis in Syria and Yemen and the ways out of these crises.
Leading a 20-member economic delegates, Schroeder arrived in Tehran on Monday to confer with Iran’s political and economic officials on regional developments and broadening mutual relations and cooperation.

In a message to the 12th International Kish Energy Exhibition (KISH ENEX 2016) here on Monday, Ali-Akbar Salehi said the event is significant as it is being held in a new setting which demands extra vigor to determine the country’s role and share in the future of the world’s energy.
‘To acquire readiness to face tomorrow’s incidents, the energy sector’s future shall be duly considered,’ he added, ‘This means that there must be a strategic vision in outlining the energy sector’s long-term plans.’
The four-day event is being held as Iran is gearing up to embrace lifting of sanctions which will pave the way for participation of international firms in Iran’s energy sector.
Some 195 domestic and foreign companies have put on display the latest investment opportunities and capacities as well as achievements by manufacturers and producers of oil, gas, petrochemical, water, electric, and new energies.
Acting Minister of Petroleum Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh inaugurated the event.
The 35 foreign firms come from Italy, China, Pakistan, Turkey, the Netherlands, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, France, Austria, the UAE, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Australia, Russia, UK, Japan, Portugal, Canada, Kuwait, and Switzerland.

The four-day event participated by 195 domestic and foreign companies has put on display the latest investment opportunities and capacities as well as achievements by manufacturers and producers of oil, gas, petrochemical, water, electric, and new energies.
Acting Minister of Petroleum Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh inaugurated the event.
The 35 foreign firms come from Italy, China, Pakistan, Turkey, the Netherlands, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, France, Austria, the UAE, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Australia, Russia, UK, Japan, Portugal, Canada, Kuwait, and Switzerland.

The announcement has been made by the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran which says two of the company’s models – Chevrolet Trax and Chevrolet Aveo – have received the required licenses to be imported into Iran. Both models are subcompact cars and are currently assembled in South Korea.
The TPO has also announced that it has approved imports of an Opel model – named Insignia Limousine.
Iranian officials said last April that US carmakers have expressed interest to operate in Iran’s auto market. They said early discussions to the same effect have already started for the presence of American car companies in Iran once the sanctions against the country are lifted.
Meanwhile, Mohsen Salehi-Niya, a deputy industries minister, had said at the same time that Iran says there is no obstacle for investment of US companies in its auto sector, but they should respect certain rules.
The preconditions, Salehi-Niya had told the media, are “mutual cooperation, creation and expansion of industrial units, investments, creation of platforms and developing them, promoting [Iran’s] domestic industries and using the capabilities of domestic parts producers’.
General Motors and Ford were specifically named as the leading American automakers that are looking into the prospects of investing in the Iranian market. This, however, was never officially confirmed.
The automobile industry is seen as Iran’s biggest non-oil sector. It accounts for nearly 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Latest data shows that Iran ranks 18th on the list of the world’s top auto manufacturers.
Iran Khodro and Saipa companies account for more than 90 percent of the total car production in the country.
Iran imported 102,000 cars during last Persian calendar year (ended March 20, 2015,) showing a 31% year-on-year increase.

According to Shana News Agency, Azizollah Ramezani added, ‘Regional countries are Iran’s top gas export priorities. China and India are also potentially preferred destinations for Iran’s gas.’

He said although Iran sits on the world’s largest natural gas reserves, it has a small share in global gas exports.

“We are required to increase our share by using modern technologies. Although Iran has 34 trillion cubic meters of gas reserves, its production capacity is 200 billion cubic meters per annum.’

“At present, LNG exports to Europe is highly economical. The US plans to supply LNG to Europe to reduce the continent’s dependence on Russia’s gas.”

Ramezani also said Russia is exporting gas to Europe via a 3,000-kilometer pipeline, adding Iran can also enter the continent’s gas market by laying such a pipeline.

“Iran has taken plenty of measures with regard to gas exports to Pakistan and has already laid out a major part of the pipelines as far as the Pakistani borders,” Ali-Reza Kameli, CEO of National Iranian Gas Exports Company, said.
“It would be natural that every country would think about the interests of its own people. Therefore, if Pakistan’s action harms our interests we will definitely act in line with terms of the contract,” Iranian petroleum ministry’s official monthly Iran Petroleum quoted Kameli as saying.
He complained that Pakistan has not taken “any specific action with regard to the construction of 780 kilometers of gas pipeline on its soil under the pretext of sanctions on Iran.”
“Therefore, the project has been held in abeyance…In every contract, penalties are envisaged for non-compliance with obligations, but Iran does not like to enter the phase of penalties vis-à-vis its neighboring country with which it has friendly ties,” said Kameli.
Iran plans to deliver 21.5 mcm/d of gas to Pakistan.
Iran looks on course to emerge from sanctions under a July 2015 nuclear deal.
Pakistan hesitant
However, Islamabad was dragging its feet even before the West imposed new sanctions on Tehran in 2012.
The US has long pressed Pakistani officials against going for the pipeline, promoting Turkmen over Iranian natural gas even though the route requires the extra mile of more than 700 km across volatile regions in Afghanistan.
The energy crisis in Pakistan which suffers about 12 hours of power cuts a day has worsened in recent years amid 4,000 megawatts of electricity shortfall, Press TV said.
Iran has completed its part of the gas pipeline project with more than $2 billion of investment but Pakistan has fallen behind the target to take gas deliveries in the winter of 2014.
Contractually, Pakistan has to pay steep fines to Iran for failing to build and operate its section of the pipeline by the winter of 2014.

Honarbakhsh said the mentioned fund will also finance construction of a water transmission system and a water treatment plant for the supply of water to Minab, the Tasnim News Agency reported.
The director of project put storage capacity of the dam at 28 million cubic meters of water per annum, of which 19 million cubic meters will be consumed for drinking and 9 million cubic meters for the irrigation purposes.
He said the project is planned to come on stream in the first quarter of 2019.
Last May, Masoumeh Ebtekar, head of Iran’s Department of Environment, said that Iran’s High Council for Water has decided to adopt new integrated techniques in future dam constructions to preserve and mange water supply.

Kazemi told IRNA that the project will guarantee Iran’s oil sale to the country.
He said Iran plans to contribute to oil refining projects abroad, adding that Spanish companies have offered a series of proposals for establishment of refinery in the country, using Iranian crude oil.
He went on to say that the refinery will run with the capacity of refining 200,000 barrels of oil per day, totally using Iranian crude oil.
Kazemi said investment in the refinery will be on equal basis: 50 percent of the cost will be endured by Iran and the remaining half by Spanish companies.
‘Of course, talks are underway and have not yet been finalized,’ he added.
He said Iran’s goal in contributing to establishment of refinery in Spain and other countries is guaranteeing lasting security of oil sales and exports.
Earlier, Managing Director of the NIORDC had told IRNA that to raise export of crude, Iran should create demand for it so that long-term sale of the product will be guaranteed.
‘The most customary and safest way to increase the exports is investment in refineries abroad. On this basis, the petroleum ministry wants to invest in refineries abroad, whose crude oil will be met by Iran.’
As for the claim that purchase of refinery abroad will not be economical, he said refinery purchase abroad, which will lead to Iran’s crude oil sale, will be right. ‘Also the profit of new refineries is high.’
Hence, he added, Iran has held talks with certain European, Asian and Central American states for refinery purchase.
After sanctions, Iran plans to guarantee long-term and safe crude sale and avoid other powers’ pressures, following the plan for purchase and establishment of refinery abroad.
Purchase of refinery, petrochemical facilities and gas stations abroad will be the suitable solution to ease international pressure on Iranian oil industry.

The law has changed the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which normally allows nationals from 38 countries to travel to the United States without visas. As a result of the changes, the program no longer includes dual nationals from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Sudan, or anyone else who has traveled to the four mentioned countries in the past five years.

About 20 million European nationals visit the US each year. This large figure can indicate how Iran’s tourism industry will be affected by the changes in the VWP.

The majority of tourists come to Iran from Germany, France, Belgium, Britain and the US.

Iran plans to attract about 20 million foreign tourists per year by 2025 to achieve the objectives of the Sixth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2016-2020).

Excerpts of the interview:

IRAN DAILY: How many foreign tourists visited Iran last year? Has Iran witnessed a significant growth year-on-year?

NASER REZAEI: More than 4.5 million foreigners visited Iran in the year to March 2015, during which the number of outbound tourists and the number of arrivals were balanced for the first time after so many years.

Iran witnessed a 200-percent growth in the number of arrivals in spring 2015 compared with the figure for the corresponding period last year.

In addition, most hotels, tourism agencies and accommodation centers across the country are reportedly fully booked up to March 2016 with the number arrivals expected to exceed five million during this period.

IRAN DAILY: Iran ranked among top 50 destinations in 2015 despite negative reports by certain media outlets to tarnish Iran’s tourism industry. Iran was also internationally recognized as a secure and peaceful nation with hospitable people in 2015. What are the main objectives of tourists visiting Iran?

NASER REZAEI: Tourists come to Iran for various reasons including sightseeing, enjoying natural attractions and making pilgrimage. Some of the tourists also come here for treatment.

Pilgrims constitute the majority of tourists to Iran followed by tourists interested in historical sites.

Health tourism has witnessed a significant growth over the past few years thanks to steps taken by the incumbent administration to improve health centers.

Iran has many breathtaking natural attractions which still remain unknown to many tourists.

We also lag behind other nations in attracting sport tourists, most of whom are the youth.

IRAN DAILY: Which European nationals constitute the majority of arrivals to Iran?

NASER REZAEI: Germans make up the majority of foreign tourists to Iran, followed by French, Belgium, and British nationals. More Europeans wanted to travel to Iran after Iran was ranked among the top 50 destinations last year.

Although the number of European tourists to Iran is much lower than the number of Asian tourists and those coming from neighboring nations. European nationals play a greater role in increasing Iran’s tourism revenues because they spend much more.

IRAN DAILY: How can changes in VWP prevent European nationals from traveling to Iran?

NASER REZAEI: The law can have negative impacts on Iran’s tourism industry. While, it is true that most hotel rooms and accommodation centers are fully booked in Iran until March 2016, such a negative and anti-Iran law can lead to a decline in the number of arrivals.

Such a law not only hurts Iran’s tourism industry but also places restrictions on scientists who have to travel to Iran for scientific research projects.

IRAN DAILY: What can the government do to avoid the adverse impacts of such law?

NASER REZAEI: Iran Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) is unable to solve this problem alone. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be involved in solving the problem.

For years, Iran has been seeking to ease travel restrictions so that nationals of certain nations can travel to Iran without visas. Such programs are helpful in reducing the adverse impacts of such an anti-Iran law.

IRAN DAILY: Experts have predicted that the number of Russian tourists to Turkey would decline as a result of the recent developments in relations between the two nations. Many neighboring countries have planned to attract Russian tourists. How do you evaluate Iran’s chances in drawing Russian tourists?

NASER REZAEI: Turkey’s tourism industry has grown in the past few years. According to official reports, Turkey’s income from tourism industry increased from $14.5 billion in 2006 to $24.4 billion in 2014.

Russians make up the majority of tourists to Turkey after the Germans. The decline in the number of Russian tourists to Turkey can hurt the country’s tourism industry. While all neighboring countries seek to attract Russians, Iran is after restoring peace in the region.

A sense of security is the most important factor for tourists when they make a decision on traveling to a region. A tranquil Middle East is to the benefit of all regional nations.

Iran is an ideal destination for every tourist since it has high tourism potentials. However, the country needs to improve its tourism facilities to be able to serve tourists and satisfy them.

Fortunately, the government believes that offering high-quality services to lower number of tourists is much more important than attracting large number of tourists without being able to provide necessary services to them.

Iran must be capable of catering for tourists from all age groups and preferences.