Iran region’s main player: Spanish envoy

The Spanish ambassador in Tehran called Iran the main player in the region and the nuclear deal the key to Iranian foreign diplomacy success, saying that commitment of all sides to implementing the deal is a base for expansion of ties, AVA Diplomatic reports.

Eduardo López Busquets said that the key achievement of the Iranian foreign policy over the past 4 years has been the negotiation and signature of the nuclear deal, aka the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with G5+1

He added, “Once the JCPOA was reached, the main obstacle for the deepening of relations between Iran and the EU and its member states was eliminated. From the Spanish perspective, the commitment to implement the JCPOA by all parties is the basis of our approach to Iran, as it creates even more confidence between Spain and Iran, and it is the foundation to expand the scope of our relations to different fields, both bilateral and multilateral.

Saying that the bilateral relations between Iran and Spain have had a predominantly economic focus, he added, “Spanish companies, with the support and guidance of the Spanish government, are well aware of the potentials of the Iranian market and have a long history of working in Iran. Therefore, the economic presence of Spain in Iran through investment and trade is increasing steadily in sectors such as oil and gas, tourism, infrastructure, and renewable energy. This economic presence is also firmly based on the traditional good political relations between both countries.

Commenting on the regional issues, the Spanish envoy said, “From the regional and multilateral perspectives, Madrid and Tehran share common concerns, especially the fight against terrorism. Iran is a major actor in a strategic region for Spain. We are very concerned by the increasing conflicts and instability. As a result, over the past four years there has been a fruitful political dialogue about the main topics of the international agendas from different viewpoints of the two countries.”

He added, “The increasing engagement of the last years should not lead to complacency, as many challenges remain in the current international environment. Spain will continue to work hard to fulfill the potential of the relations, both bilaterally and through the EU. In this regard the normalization of relations between Iran and the EU, by means of the opening of an EU Delegation in Tehran is of paramount importance for Spain.”