Berlin, April 4, IRNA -- The German government aims to expand its trade relations with Iran following the latest framework agreement on a final nuclear accord, news reports said Saturday.




German Development Aid Minister Gerd Mueller stressed in an interview with the daily PASSAUER NEUEN PRESSE that the Lausanne agreement paved also the way for stepping up German-Iranian trade ties.

Germany has traditionally enjoyed good economic ties with Iran which can be expanded again rather quickly, the minister noted.

German exports to Iran surged last year by 30 percent to reach 2.4 billion euros as a result of the partial lifting of western sanctions.

Mueller's remarks were echoed by the deputy chairman of the co-ruling Christian Democratic parliamentary fraction Michael Fuchs who urged the immediate easing of anti-Iran sanctions, saying German companies would also benefit from a financially prosperous Iran.

He pointed out Iran was also a serious alternative for meeting German gas needs in a bid to lessen dependence on Russian gas amid the ongoing Ukrainian conflict.

Germany's business community hopes to substantially increase trade with Iran after the Lausanne framework agreement.

According to the managing-director of the Hamburg-based German-Iran Chamber of Commerce, Michael Tockuss, it would be 'quite easy' to revive the profitable German- Iranian business ties.

If there is a final nuclear agreement with Iran, the total volume of German exports to Iran could rise to between five and six billion euros, Tockuss pointed out.

Meanwhile, Germany's DIHK Chambers of Trade and Commerce expects German exports to Iran to soar to up to 12 billion euros over the coming years in spite of tough Russian, Turkish and Chinese competition.


By IRNA