Brexit Impact: UK Could Drop Sanctions To Trade With Iran

With Britons having voted to exit the European Union, Britain could eventually expand its trade with Iran — a country hungry for foreign investment, especially in its energy sector, compliance attorneys at the New York-based Sheppard Mullin told International Business Times.

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10 July 2016

According to ILNA, In the wake of a so-called Brexit, a warmer relationship between Britain and Iran could offer both countries solid economic opportunities.

Certain sanctions on Iran implemented by the EU during the past two decades would not necessarily be applicable to Britain after it formally leaves the bloc. Britain would no longer be bound by EU decisions and directives.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “As a democratic establishment, the Islamic Republic of Iran respects the British people’s vote on leaving the European Union, and considers that as being in line with the will of majority of that country’s people to adopt their own foreign policy.”

Moving forward, though, the U.K. needs to keep its security goals in mind while managing its trade. The country’s security is contingent in part on its relationship with the U.S., which is working to build its own ties with Iran.

The Iranian government is focusing its trade deals on the airline industry and the energy sector.

Iran announced this month a major agreement with Boeing that would authorize the buying of 80 passenger planes and the leasing of 29 others, making it one of the Islamic Republic’s biggest deals with an American manufacturer since some sanctions were lifted this year. The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is also engaged in a transaction with Iran.

Meanwhile, Britain is positioned to reach an agreement with Iran in the energy sector.

Although the U.S. and other European countries can carry out trade with Iran, conducting trade with Britain after it leaves the EU in many ways should be easier because London will not be bound by Brussels.

Europe in general and Britain in particular have been looking for sources of crude oil and natural gas products while avoiding Russia. Since 2014, Turkey has put forward several plans to provide Europe with an alternative to Russia, and Iran could offer another alternative.

Tehran said in January it had set a two-year target to supply the European market with liquified natural gas. Outside Russia, Iran is believed to hold the world’s largest natural gas reserves. Greece is in talks with the Islamic Republic not only to get natural gas for domestic use but also to serve as a gateway to supply the fuel to other European countries.

Countries among the biggest suppliers of oil and gas to Britain are Russia, Norway, Nigeria and Algeria.