Newspaper Article

Mitterrand Will Visit Iran; Easing Teheran's Isolation

Ibrahim, Youssef M

1991

Overview

The loan, which has been the subject of lengthy and complicated negotiations over the last 12 years, was made by the Iranian Government in 1974 to France's agency for nuclear energy, the C.E.A. It was extended in return for French assistance to Iran to set up its own nuclear reactors and feed them with enriched uranium imported from the French agency and its affiliates. France for its part said it would lead the way for Iran to normalize ties with the rest of the European Community. Iran has over the last few years resumed its ties with all 12 members of the community, including Britain, which still has hostages in Lebanon. Lebanese terrorists are holding six Americans in Lebanon and Iran maintains that the United States owes it $10 billion in frozen assets and interest on money paid by the [Shah] to buy weapons that were never delivered by the United States after the Iranian revolution. The United States has refused to enter any talks with Iran before the American hostages are freed.

• Publisher: New York Times Company
• Subject: FRANCE-INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS-IRAN / IBRAHIM, YOUSSEF M / INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS / Mitterrand, Francois / MITTERRAND, FRANCOIS (PRES)