Norway OKs Credit Line for Iran: Envoy

The Norwegian government’s recent move to guarantee a 1-billion-euro credit line for Iran reveals Oslo’s serious resolve to enhance ties with Tehran, Norway’s new ambassador to Iran Lars Nordrum said in a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday.

Highlighting the significance that Norwegian companies attach to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), Nordrum said the nuclear deal has provided an ideal opportunity for closer cooperation with Iran.

For his part, the Iranian president said the JCPOA has opened the doors for negotiations on various regional and international issues.

Voicing Iran’s willingness to expand economic ties with Norway, President Rouhani said the state-run and private sectors of the two countries can work on many joint projects.

In August 2016, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Norwegian counterpart Borge Brende signed three export credit deals aimed at funding development and infrastructure projects.

Last month, President Rouhani held a meeting with Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Unveiling Iran’s plans to attract $200 billion in foreign investment in the energy sector within the next five years, Rouhani called on Norwegian businesses to seize this opportunity, stressing that Tehran is resolved to broaden economic ties with Oslo in all fields.