Iran is exploring a return to international debt markets for the first time since 2002.
Minister of Economy and Finance Ali Tayyebnia made the above statement in an interview with Bloomberg, as the Islamic Republic seeks to finance an economic recovery a year after a historic nuclear deal.
Tayyebnia, whose ministry is at the forefront of securing Iran’s access to the global financial system, says he expects Iran to secure a credit rating in the “near future”, a step that could help attract bond investors.
Iranian officials are “negotiating with all the rating agencies”, he said.
Ten months before his first term ends, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is seeking to turn his landmark diplomatic success into tangible economic benefits for Iran’s 80 million people. His bid to lure billions of dollars in foreign investment needed to rebuild infrastructure has been hindered by the concern of global banks they might fall foul of US Treasury sanctions not lifted under the July 2015 accord. Tehran has also heavily criticized moves by Republican lawmakers in Washington to threaten to roll back the deal.
“In the area of banking relations, especially big banks, we are still faced with some problems,” Tayyebnia said. “However, some of these problems, gradually and over time, will be resolved.”
> Last Frontier
Iran agreed to limit the scope of its nuclear program under the July 2015 deal in return for the removal of sanctions. For many investors, it also meant the possibility of opening up one of the world’s last major untapped frontier markets.
The country last issued international debt in July 2002, according to the International Monetary Fund.
"Officials from Fitch Ratings visited the country in June to make an initial assessment of the economy," Akbar Komijani, a deputy central bank governor, said in an interview on June 30.
The company said in March it was in discussions with the Islamic Republic but declined to elaborate.
Fitch withdrew its B+ sovereign rating, the fourth-highest junk grade, for Iran in 2008 following the maturity and full repayment of its last sovereign Eurobond that year. Moody’s withdrew its B2 rating on Iran in 2002, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
> Race to Sell
“Right now, the groundwork for issuing bonds and various Iranian debt securities in international markets exists,” Tayyebnia said.
He didn’t elaborate on the potential size and timing of the possible sale.
The OPEC member would join other major oil producers that have rushed to the bond market to repair public finances battered by the plunge in crude prices.
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, raised $5 billion in April, shortly before Qatar tapped investors for almost double that amount.
Saudi Arabia, Iran’s main political rival in the region, has hired banks to help arrange its first international bond sale, according to people familiar with the matter.
> Stalled Car
Yet as Iran weighs its options, authorities are already pursuing other avenues to finance multiple projects crucial to create jobs and fuel economic growth.
The economy minister said about $45 billion worth of financing agreements “with various countries” have been reached since the nuclear deal was implemented in January, though he said it could take up to several months to “get to the implementation stage”.
“It’s natural that when a car that has stalled and wants to start moving, at first it will come under more strain and will need a higher driving force, after that it will move with more ease,” he said.
Tayyebnia is a key member of Rouhani’s administration that inherited an economy struggling with a dearth of investments and a currency crisis that triggered hyper-inflation. He predicted gross domestic product will grow by 5% in the 12 months to March 2017, up from 4.5% previously forecast by Iranian officials.
Inflation has eased to single digits for the first time in a quarter century, delivering on a Rouhani pledge to lower borrowing costs that have stymied growth. Banks have cut interest rates on deposits to 15 from 18%.
Non-performing loans have also dropped to around 10% of total loans from 14% when Rouhani came into office in 2013, the minister said.
“We are seeing the positive effects of sanctions removal on the economy,” he said.
The president suggested that, just as the application of sanctions on Iran took time, a full economic recovery will also be gradual.
“As an example, in relation to the export and production of oil, we are currently not facing any particular limits. In some areas, we still have not managed to fully benefit from the outcome of sanctions removal,” he said.
Oil exports have jumped this year to a level near the nation’s pre-sanctions peak.
> Boeing Deal
Meanwhile, Iran’s opponents in the US Congress want to impose new trade curbs.
Among their targets is a $17.6 billion deal with American planemaker Boeing for 109 aircraft. That would be the biggest business transaction between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
“We are not really that sensitive about this deal,” he said. “It’s not as important to us as it is perhaps for the Americans. There are other companies in the world that can provide for our needs,” Tayyebnia said.
Boeing’s Iran deal announced last month consists of an initial memorandum of understanding with Iran Air. It intends to sell 80 aircraft to Iran Air and lease it another 29 aircraft, putting the deal’s value at about $25 billion.
French planemaker Airbus is also in agreement with Iran for the sale of 118 jetliners to Iranian airlines worth more than $25.
Iran is also in talks with Japanese planemaker Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation while Embraer of Brazil and Canada’s Bombardier are also marketing their aircraft in Iran.
