An Iranian diplomat has called for joint U.S.-Iran economic development projects in energy and mining as a basis for a stronger agreement on nuclear controls. Hamid Ghanbari, Deputy Director for Economic Diplomacy in Iran’s Foreign Ministry, on Feb. 15, explained: “For the sake of an agreement’s durability, it is essential that the U.S. also benefits in areas with high and quick economic returns.” The semi-official Fars news agency quoted him as saying: “Common interests in the oil and gas fields, joint fields, mining investments, and even aircraft purchases are included in the negotiations.” He argued that it was a weakness of the 2015 nuclear pact that U.S. economic interests were not included.
The idea, according to CBS News, has been presented at the recent U.S.-Iran talks. Their article, “Iran Dangles Investment Proposals as Off Ramp from Trumps Gunboat Diplomacy,”, cited “a diplomatic source with knowledge of the Oman-mediated negotiations” to report that Iran has “indicated it may be willing to purchase American aircraft and to offer possible access to oil and gas fields and joint investment opportunities.”
