Spain

"Spanish hotel group Grupo Martinon has officially declared its readiness to invest in the construction of three hotels in Iran. In a letter to the Tourism Holding of Social Security Organization (known locally by its Persian acronym HEGTA), the Madrid-based group formally declared its intention to invest in three hotels being built by Homa Hotel Group, one each in Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan, Donyaye Safer reported." (Financial Tribune, "Spanish Group Interested in Hotel Investment," 10/24/2016).

"This great hotel project was already in danger last year, following the withdrawal of the United States from  the Joint Action Plan  (JCPOA) in May and the sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump on the Persian country in November. However, then the hotel company assured that it maintained its project normally . 

Now  Meliá confirms to Vozpópuli  that although "previously it had already suffered delays ", since its opening was scheduled for 2017, the project is currently " stopped for reasons beyond Meliá Hotels International"." (Vozpopuli, "Meliá's flagship project in Iran, paralyzed in the midst of tension with the US," 12/19/2019).

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"Meliá Hotels International has announced its entry into the Iranian market with the first five-star branded hotel to be managed by an international hotel company, the Gran Melia Ghoo Hotel, located in the largest mixed residential, commercial and hotel complex to be developed in Iran, currently being built in Salman Shahr, a popular holiday destination on the Caspian Sea. The Spanish hotel chain thus takes an important step to becoming one of the leading international hotel groups in Iran, a country which expects to see significant tourism development after the lifting of sanctions that have restricted foreign investment since 2006." (November 5, 2017)

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"A handful of mostly European hotel groups are looking to steal a march on their U.S. competitors by moving into the Iranian hospitality market while U.S. companies still face regulatory uncertainty...Abu Dhabi-based-Rotana Hotel Management Corp. PJSC, France’s Accor, Spain’s Meliá Hotels International  and Germany’s Steigenberger Hotel Group are all moving quickly in anticipation of a tourism and business boom...Meliá has a five-star property in the works on the shores of the Caspian Sea." (Reuters, "Iran Prepares for an Uptick in Tourism," 10/4/2016).

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"Global hotel companies are establishing new beachheads in Iran, betting that lifted sanctions against the Middle East nation will spark a jump in tourism and business travel after decades of economic isolation. Spanish operator Melia Hotels International is planning to open a 319-room hotel next year on the Caspian Sea. French group Accor Hotels, which opened two hotels near the Tehran airport last autumn, is establishing a joint-stock company in Iran through which it will partner with local groups to manage hotels. Abu Dhabi-based Rotana Hotel Management Corp. PJSC has started developing properties in the country as well... 'We just have to wait. That's the frustrating bit,' said Peter Norman, senior vice president for acquisitions and development at Hyatt in Europe, the Mideast and Africa. 'We're really keen to go in there,' he said. Hyatt and Germany-based Kempinski Hotels have been exploring opportunities but said for the moment barriers remain too high." (The Wall Street Journal, “Next Big Travel Destination: Iran?,” 5/17/2016)

"To date Spanish clothing retailer Mango, Italian fashion boutique Benetton, and luxury women's designer Escada, are among the very few Western companies to open shops in Iran." (BBC, "Why a luxury-shopping revolution is coming to Iran," 6/26/15)

Prematecnica lists an agent in Iran. (Prematecnica Webiste, "Worldwide Agents")

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“As Iran’s 19th annual International Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Exhibition drew to an end in Tehran last week, it was hailed as a success by both organizers and participants alike. Though none of the European or American oil giants had taken part, there was a tripling of participation by foreign companies from countries such as Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan as well as the Chinese…At the moment, Western firms can at the most do only limited business with Iran due to sanctions, but those that took part in the Tehran expo say they are positioning themselves for the possibility that things might change. ‘Focusing on the Iranian market is very important for us because we think with the new government in Iran, the sanctions are near the end,’ said Juan Vicente Ortiz, a head engineer of Prematecnica, a Spanish firm which produces gas flares.” (Time, “Foreign Companies Strike Hopeful Note at Iranian Oil Fair,” 5/15/14)

"Talks are underway between Iran’s National Petrochemical Company and major Spanish consortium Sercobe to open a credit line to finance petrochemical projects in Iran, says the NPC’s head of financial affairs.“A new round of negotiations that started in Tehran hinges on outlining the details of long-term cooperation in implementing and financing petrochemical joint ventures,” Hussein Alimorad was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency." (November 27, 2016). 

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On its Company Website, Sercobe lists multiple contracts with Iranian companies amounting to millions of Euros. Clients include the National Iranian Gas Company and the National Iranian Steel Company. (Sercobe Website, “References Sercobe: Iran”)

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Sercobe attended Iran’s 19th annual international oil and gas show between May 6-9. (Press TV, “Foreign firms rushing towards Iran's oil market,” 5/6/14) 

"The ministry identified the Spanish company as Fluval, which was founded in the 1970s and is located in the northern town of Amurrio. In a statement supplied to The Associated Press, the company denied any wrongdoing. It denied trying to supply parts to Iran in violation of international law and said it manufactures high-technology valves for oil and gas. 'The valves cannot be used in the nuclear industry,' Fluval said. 'Fluval denies having committed any criminal act,' the statement said, adding that the company 'has always conducted its business in compliance with international laws.'" (The Washington Post, "Spain arrests 2 suspects, seizes equipment it says was for use in Iran’s nuclear program," 1/11/13)

"Spanish authorities say they raided on Thursday a company they suspect was exporting machinery to Iran that could be used in Tehran's nuclear program.The statement said police officers seized documents and several computers and questioned two people at the firm Lazaro Ituarte in the Basque town of Amurrio... Spanish authorities raided another company in the Basque Country in late November also suspected of exporting machinery to Iran that could be used in Tehran's nuclear program. The company was suspected of sending to Iran, via Turkey, machines for the manufacture of turbine propellers used in energy generation. The Basque company, ONA Electroerosion, denied the charges made by the Spanish tax authorities that it had smuggled machinery to Iran to use in the country's nuclear programme." (EITB, "Basque firm suspected of exporting 'forbidden' machinery to Iran," 01/11/13)

Lazaro Ituarte is a member of the ValvoSpain Group

"Spanish authorities say they raided on Thursday a company they suspect was exporting machinery to Iran that could be used in Tehran's nuclear program.The statement said police officers seized documents and several computers and questioned two people at the firm Lazaro Ituarte in the Basque town of Amurrio... Spanish authorities raided another company in the Basque Country in late November also suspected of exporting machinery to Iran that could be used in Tehran's nuclear program. The company was suspected of sending to Iran, via Turkey, machines for the manufacture of turbine propellers used in energy generation. The Basque company, ONA Electroerosion, denied the charges made by the Spanish tax authorities that it had smuggled machinery to Iran to use in the country's nuclear programme." (EITB, "Basque firm suspected of exporting 'forbidden' machinery to Iran," 01/11/13)

"The Spanish satellite company Hispasat has stopped airing Press TV and Hispan TV as of Friday December 21 and ordered Overon, another satellite company, to follow suit. Hispasat’s removal of the Islamic Republic state channels comes after a similar move by the French company Eutelsat, which also owns part of Hispasat... Iran says that Hispan TV is officially registered in Spain and has been operating under the media regulations of that country." (Radio Zamaneh, "Sanctions cause problems for Iranian channels," 12/22/2012)

"Spanish officials said the company targeted in their investigation, ONA Electroerosion SA, sent to Iran, via through a Turkish-registered intermediary, seven multi-ton machines used in the manufacture of turbine propellers for energy generation, among other things... A person who answered the phone on Monday at ONA's headquarters said executives were in a meeting and wouldn't comment... ONA is a leading manufacturer of electrical discharge machining equipment, a kind of industrial tool used to make production parts for the electronic, aerospace and auto industries... The case against ONA was the second major crackdown in 18 months on Spaniards allegedly doing business with Iran." (The Wall Street Journal, "Spain Raids Company Over Suspected Iran Exports," 11/26/2012)