Europe shipping lines eyeing Iran business: Official

European shipping companies have started talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) to restart operations at Iran’s ports, the IRISL chief says.

“With the lifting of the sanctions and [the concomitant creation of] a more positive atmosphere, some of our trading partners in Europe and other world countries have now started talks for restarting work in Iran’s ports,” Mohammad Hossein Dajmar said on Wednesday.

He said the Geneva nuclear deal, reached between Iran and six world powers last November and implemented on January 20, has set the stage for Iran to broaden its shipping operations in other countries.

Meanwhile, Deputy Head of Ports and Marine Organization (PMO) for Marine Affairs Ali Estiri said five foreign shipping lines have announced their readiness to return to Iran’s ports.

On January 26, the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) said it is poised to carry crude oil to Asian buyers in its own vessels as sanctions ease following the implementation of Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

On January 20, the EU Council suspended part of its sanctions against Iran according to the Geneva nuclear deal between Tehran and the six world powers (the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany), which was signed last November.

Iranian crude oil exports increased in January for the third consecutive month as sanctions against the Islamic Republic are gradually relieved following the nuclear deal.

In its monthly report released on January 21, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Iran’s December 2013 oil exports rose by 50,000 bpd to 1.15 million bpd.