President Hassan Rouhani will be the first Iranian leader in a decade to visit the World Economic Forum in Davos next week, when he'll have a chance to turn his nuclear diplomacy into deals that can boost the economy.
Rouhani, 65, will be accompanied in the Swiss city by his foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who negotiated Iran's nuclear deal with world powers in Geneva last November, according to an official program announced today. They'll be looking to attract investment and help an economy hurt by U.S. and European Union sanctions that will be eased under the agreement, due to take force two days before Davos starts.
"Rouhani wants to create the perception that Iran is now open to business," said Mark Dubowitz, the executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "This is the place to shake hands and cut deals."
...