France<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s imports from Iran in the first nine months of 2016 show a staggering 34-fold rise compared to the corresponding period last year, thanks to resumption of oil imports after coming into force of the Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p>\n Iran-France trade has tripled since implementation of the nuclear agreement in January, according to figures from EU’s statistical office Eurostat.<\/p>\n Iran has experienced a positive balance of \u20ac383 million in trade with France during the nine-month period, after resumption of crude exports to Europe\u2019s biggest purchaser of Iranian oil, Tasnim News Agency reported.<\/p>\n The European<\/a><\/strong> country\u2019s imports from Iran averaged \u20ac34.4 million from 2014 until 2016, and reached \u20ac229 million in August 2016.<\/p>\n Cooperation between Iranian and French companies has increased in recent months.<\/p>\n In November, France’s Total signed a deal with Iran to further develop its part of the world’s largest gas field, becoming the first western energy company to sign a major deal with Tehran since the lifting of international sanctions earlier this year.<\/p>\n Total <\/a><\/strong>confirmed that it had signed a heads of agreement with National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) for the Phase 11 development of South Pars<\/a><\/strong> in the Persian Gulf, which extends into Qatari waters where it is known as the North Field.<\/p>\n The French company has already played a key role in Iran’s energy industry, including the development of phases 2 and 3 of South Pars in the 2000s, before pulling out of the country after international sanctions were imposed in 2010.<\/p>\n Also, French carmaker Peugeot-Citroen (PSA) announced in June its return to Iran under a \u20ac400m joint venture with its old partner Iran Khodro in Tehran.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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France\u2019s imports from Iran in January-September 2016 stood at \u20ac842 million, more than 34 times greater than the same period in 2015.<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n