Iran: 'We don't do business with Zionist companies'

Iranian official denies country acquired tanker from Ofer Brothers group, says Iran's law forbids any economic transaction with Israel.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
oil tanker 88 298 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
oil tanker 88 298
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Iran has no business dealings with "Zionist" companies, Chairman of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines (ICCIM) Mohammad Nahavandian said on Friday as quoted by AFP citing local Iranian media reports..
“Based on the laws of the country, any kind of trade or economic transaction with the Zionist regime and its affiliated firms is against the law,” Nahavandian was quoted as saying.
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“The news regarding the activities of Zionist firms in regard to Iran is a new game which has surfaced in reaction to other nations welcoming establishing economic ties with Iran,” Nahavandian added. “Thus they [Western powers] are naming some Zionist firms as engaged in doing business with Iran.”
Nahavandian's remarks come after the Ofer Brothers group was identified as one of seven companies facing US sanctions, for allegedly taking part in a September 2010 transaction that provided a tanker valued at $8.65 million to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.
According to a fact sheet released by the US State Department last week, the Ofer Brothers Group, together with Singapore based Tanker Pacific, “failed to exercise due diligence and did not heed publicly available and easily obtainable information that would have indicated that they were dealing with IRISL.