Lebanon

"...Others, like MENA Capital CIO Khaled Abdel Majeed, are also getting ready to invest, but worry that a dedicated country fund carries too many risks at this point. Instead, Majeed is aiming to invest part of his firm's funds under management in Iranian shares - once the sanctions are lifted. 'At the moment it may be very marketable, but at some point it will become too expensive,' he said, adding that the firm was starting its search for suitable local partners in Tehran. 'And there is also a lot of risk in the deal that has been agreed, and the regime itself is not stable enough to last another 50 years.'" (Reuters, "Foreign Investors Try to Tap into Iran," 7/20/15)

“Unifert is one of the most prominent traders and distributors of fertiliser and seed and other agricultural supplies in the Middle East and North Africa region.” (Reuters)

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On its Company Website, Unifret lists reprentative office and an affiliate in Iran.

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"Belgian chemical firm Tessenderlo will ship fertiliser to Iran within weeks as the easing of Western financial sanctions has helped Tehran complete its first potash tender purchase in two years…In September, Iran's Agricultural Support Services Company (ASSC) issued a tender to buy 60,000 tonnes of potassium sulphate, its first for two years, according to its website. A Tessenderlo spokeswoman said the chemical producer won the tender and expected to deliver the first of two cargoes by the end of this month. Unifert, a Lebanese fertiliser trading firm with offices in Europe, Iran and across the Arab world, is executing the physical and financial transactions, sources close to the deal said. Though the tender was issued before the November political agreement, sources said that an improvement in ties after Rouhani's election in August had raised optimism. The easing of restrictions on Iran's banking system will facilitate trade and encourage future transactions, they said. ‘It is now easier and more workable on the banking side to seal deals now,’ a European trading source said. The fertiliser was priced at around 548 euros ($746) a tonne, including freight and insurance, market sources said.’ The tender was issued two or three months before the deal, so the demand was there anyway. However, the political environment makes it easier. It was the difficulties the Iranians had making transfers in hard currency that had restricted trade before,’ a source close to the deal said…Unifert is one of the most prominent traders and distributors of fertiliser and seed and other agricultural supplies in the Middle East and North Africa region." (Reuters, “Belgian firm sells fertiliser to Iran as sanctions ease,” 1/17/14)

"The statement called on Allied Engineering Group S.A.R.L. (AEG) and Lebanon's Central Bank to “end their relationships” with Iranian banks and financial institutions. AEG is SWIFT's Beirut-based Regional Partner for the Middle East and Africa, and provides SWIFT services for more than 400 banks in more than 40 countries... UANI called on AEG to confirm that it will not allow Iranian institutions to use it and its Service Bureaus as a work-around following the expected termination of Iranian SWIFT access." (Naharnet, "U.S. Organization Calls on Lebanese Central Bank Not to Help Iran Evade Sanctions," 3/1/2012)

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"Continuing its SWIFT campaign, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) called on the Allied Engineering Group S.A.R.L. (AEG) and Lebanon's Central Bank to end their relationships with Iranian banks and financial institutions, and prevent Iran from using Lebanon as a banking hub to avoid sanctions. AEG is SWIFT's Beirut-based Regional Partner for the Middle East and Africa, and provides SWIFT services for more than 400 banks in more than 40 countries. AEG offers additional add-on electronic services to such institutions through its Beirut, Bahrain, and Egypt-based Service Bureaus (SB's). UANI is concerned that AEG and its SB's will serve as a continuing gateway and electronic work-around for Iranian funds. UANI called on AEG to confirm unequivocally that it will not allow Iranian institutions to use it and its SB's as a work-around following the expected termination of Iranian SWIFT access." (UANI Press Release, "UANI Calls on Allied Engineering Group, Lebanese Central Bank to Close Lebanese Electronic Gateway for Iranian Funds," 2/21/2012)