Sputnik - Despite Washington�s persistent anti-Iranian policy, foreign investors will not turn away from the Iranian market, Iranian economic expert and journalist Ahmad Hadem Al-Melle told Sputnik. According to him, if there are new American sanctions against Iran they are unlikely to be supported by US allies.




After the final agreement on�the Iranian nuclear program was signed and sanctions against�Tehran were subsequently lifted, the country has been enjoying unprecedented investment flow into�different parts of�its economy. Western companies such as�Siemens, Total, Volkswagen, Renault and Airbus are already running major projects in�Iran.

In an interview with�Sputnik Iran, Al-Melle, an adviser at�the Industrial Development & Renovation Organization of�Iran (IDRO) and the editor-in-chief of�the Iranian business newspaper Eghtesad-? Bartar, said that foreign investors benefit from�the current economic environment in�Iran.

The oil and gas industry as�well as�the transport sector are believed to�be the most promising, with�a total of�20�megaprojects for�foreign investorsalready being implemented. According to�the expert, the number of�new deals is steadily growing.
"Over the last two months, we have signed at�least four major projects, including two deals with�French oil giant Total and carmaker Renault. There is also a deal with�Russia�s company Transmashholding on�the manufacturing of�railway cars. Finally, there is a railway construction project with�a Chinese company. And more new projects are coming," Al-Melle said.


As Washington is reportedly considering a new round�of economic sanctions against�Tehran, the expert underscored that European and�Russian companies�already cooperating with�Iran are "not scared to�take on�the US."

He also suggested that the possible new sanctions would have an insignificant effect on�the Iranian economy and are likely to�backfire on�the US economy.
"The matter of�sanctions has two sides. Of course, the US wants to�punish Iran with�additional restrictions, but�if it does it will also shoot itself in�the foot," Al-Melle pointed out.


Moreover, there is another problem for�the US concerning the possible introduction of�new�sanctions against�Iran. According to�the expert, US allies in�Europe would be very unlikely to�support such a move.
"The US needs solidarity from�its allies to�efficiently exert pressure over�Iran. However, many of�Washington�s partners now believe that new sanctions would be a violation of�international law. Moreover, they don�t want to�face economic losses due to�Washington�s political ambitions. � Even if there are some new sanctions they will not generate the desired effect for�the American establishment," Al-Melle concluded.


Earlier this week, Reuters�reported, citing US officials, that US President�Donald Trumpwants a more hard-line policy towards�Iran. In particular, the White House is allegedly discussing a new stance on�the 2015 final deal on�Tehran�s nuclear program, including tougher economic sanctions if Iran violates the deal.