Some 20 French and Iranian climbers ascended Iran’s highest peak this week, the 5,671-meter (18,606-foot) Damavand, in a bid to build closer scientific ties and promote warming relations.
The expedition by geologists, businessmen, mountaineers and environmentalists was also a chance to showcase Iran’s huge under-used tourism potential and welcome the return of French mountain conservation to the country, said Frederic Burnier Frambonet, who led the French team.
Almost exactly a year since world powers reached a nuclear deal with Iran and agreed to lift sanctions, France has been one of the most eager to restore ties with the isolated Islamic republic.
“The expedition is a direct result of the nuclear accord,” said Frambonet.
Iran hopes that tourism can become a second pillar of the economy after oil.
The Alborz mountain chain, that includes Damavand and overlooks Tehran, currently has only a handful of small ski stations, but has huge potential.
“There is the means to create mountain stations that could work during the summer as well as the winter for hiking and mountain biking,” said Frambonet.
Currently, the quickest way to access the ski slopes is a cable car from north Tehran to the Tochal ski resort at 3,800 meters that was built by a French company, Poma, in 1970, nine years before the Islamic revolution.
Poma is reportedly keen to return to Iran to upgrade the cable car, which was the longest in the world when it was built at 7.5 kilometers (more than four and a half miles).
AFP
President Trump’s decision to fire John Bolton as national security adviser over significant disagreements is great news for fans of Barack Obama’s Iran policy. In breaking the Bolton news —...
Iran warns of further retreat from nuclear deal without EU action
France pushes $15 billion credit line plan for Iran, if U.S. allows it
France dangles $15 Billion bailout for Iran in effort to save Nuclear Deal
Iran to woo Chinese tourists with visa-free entry ‘within weeks’
Iran official says U.S. showing ‘some flexibility’ on oil sales
U.S. engages in threats to stop Iran oil sales to traditional clients - Zarif
G7 summit: Iran foreign minister makes surprise Biarritz appearance
Middle East scholars blame Trump for an Iran policy 40 years in the making
Copyright © 2013 Real Iran. powered by Wordpress.