France, Germany "trying to preserve SPV" to maintain trade with IranNovember 27, 2018 - 16:35 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Director of Iran project at Crisis Group Ali Vaez said that France and Germany are trying to rescue the Special-Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to maintain trade with the Islamic Republic, IRNA reports. Vaez made the remarks Tuesday, November 27 in a tweet. France and Germany have joined forces to rescue a European effort to create a payment channel to keep trade flowing with Iran, defying US attempts to take the air out of the plan, Wall Street Journal earlier quoted senior diplomats as saying. "The steps by Europe’s most powerful countries are part of their campaign to salvage the 2015 Iran nuclear deal after President Trump withdrew the US from the deal in May. Their goal is to help European companies continue some business activity with Iran despite sweeping new US sanctions on the country and any company that does business with it." France or Germany will host the corporation that would handle the payments channel, the diplomats said. If France hosts it, a German official will head the corporation and vice versa. Both countries will help fund the corporation. The media went on to say that 'the payments channel, known as a special purpose vehicle, or SPV, would use a system of credits to facilitate compensation for goods traded between Iran and Europe—allowing some trade to proceed without the need for European commercial banks to make or receive payments to Iran'. Earlier the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini said that SPV aims to create a legal channel for easing financial transactions with Iran. The idea for creating SPV was first floated in a meeting of foreign ministers from the UK, China, France, Germany, Russia and Iran on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |