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Still, the agreement to establish a joint venture with a government-run conglomerate is welcome news for Iran.

Renault has pledged to open two factories with Iranian partners.

One partner, the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization, a government conglomerate known as IDRO and which controls 117 companies, was long under sanctions by the United States and Europe which accused it of supporting Irans missile program. Those sanctions were lifted under Irans nuclear agreement with world powers last year, which allowed Renault and other foreign companies, including the American plane manufacturer Boeing, to do business with the country.

Officials of the Treasury Department, where the Office of Foreign Assets Control oversees the sanctions imposed on Iran, did not immediately respond to queries about the Renault deal. But the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization Company (IDRO) is listed on the Treasury Departments website as exempt from sanctions under the nuclear deal.

Sanctions lawyers in the United States said Renaults decision to proceed with the joint venture indicated it was confident that the nuclear deal would survive, despite the Trump administrations threats to withdraw from it.

Farhad Alavi, managing partner of the Akrivis Law Group in Washington, said Renaults decision also signaled that it had likely undertaken a great deal of care to ensure that it is fully compliant.

Another major French carmaker, Groupe PSA, which produces brands like Peugeot and Citron, has stepped up its activities in Iran since the lifting of the sanctions last year, while the French energy giant Total signed a deal with Tehran last month to lead a natural gas project.

But despite the various agreements, Iran remains a difficult and opaque place to do business. Corruption is widespread, and political opposition to foreign investment can raise obstacles.

Renault said in a statement that the expansion would promote its brand in Iran. The carmaker sold an estimated 68,000 cars in Iran in the first six months of this year, more than doubling its sales compared with the period a year earlier. Renault said it now has about 10 percent of the Iranian market for autos.

The French company will hold a 60 percent share in the joint venture, according to Mansour Moazzami, the chairman of IDRO. The rest will be split evenly between the conglomerate and the other partner, Negin Khodro, a private company that represents Renault in Iran.

Last week, IDRO announced another joint venture, this time with Transmashholding, Russias largest rail equipment supplier, to develop Irans dilapidated railway system. As part of the $2.5 billion deal, the Russian company will own 80 percent of the joint venture.

Follow Thomas Erdbrink on Twitter @ThomasErdbrink.

Thomas Erdbrink reported from Tehran, and Rick Gladstone from New York.

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Iran Reaches Deal With Renault Despite New US Sanctions - New York Times

Russias military is winning its International Army Games, leading competing teams fromChina, India andIran.

The annual games, which consist of 22 disciplines of military drills set up as a spectator sport, are halfway through their two-week run, and Russia has won or is leading 11 of them. According to the official ranking,with less than a week to go until the games closing ceremony, China is in second place, leading in seven disciplines. Kazakhstan is third, performing best in three disciplines. Belarus is the only country outside the big three to lead a discipline.

Read more: Could Russias next breed of warplanes swat missiles aside using nothing but lasers?

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Russia is currently in top form in the marquee event of the games: the tank biathlon, an obstacle course tank race with a shooting accuracy round. The 2017 version of the event features Russia, China and India competing in their militarys own tanks, adding a level of strategic interest to the competitions entertainment.

Last week, Colonel General Oleg Salyukov, commander-in-chief of Russia's ground forces,hailed the country'stanks as the best in the worldby virtue of their dominating performance in the games for three years running.

All three of the Russian crews taking part in the biathlon on the outskirts of Moscowhold the fastest times around the track, ahead of Chinas fastest crew, which took fourth place. Indias fastest teamranks a distant eighth, behind one Kazakh crew and two Belarusian crews.

The International Army Games are an annual eventspearheaded by Russias Ministry of Defense. In addition to the tank biathlon, troops also compete in air maneuvers andscouting tasks, and race military trucks offroad.

Of the 28 participating countries, a NATO memberhas never taken part despite Moscows insistence that they are welcome to do so. In a statement to Newsweek, a NATO official said invitations to these military games are no substitute for proper transparency and confidence-building measuressuch as OSCE observation of military exerciseswhich Russia routinely avoids.

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Russian Military Leads China, India and Iran in International Army Games - Newsweek

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Iran Is Using Syria to Advance Toward the Mediterranean Wall Street Journal (subscription) Far from being a minor development in a violent and unstable region, this marks another Iranian success in its quest for power and dominance across the Middle East. Since its 1979 revolution, Iran has sought to become a dominant world power capable of ...

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Iran Is Using Syria to Advance Toward the Mediterranean - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

SEAN NUGENT

Last updated09:45, August 8 2017

SEAN NUGENT

The entrance to Iran's Grand Bazaar.

Iran is not the first place on most people's list of travel destinations. The Middle-Eastern nation has been virtually cut off from the majority of the Western world since the Islamic revolution that overthrew the Shah in 1979. It is often aligned with neighbouring nations struggling with war, terrorism, anti-US sentiments and an overwhelming amount of sand.

But the reality is far different. Iran is a country full of culture, history, welcoming people, and a surprising amount of greenery.

The capital Tehran can overwhelm even the most experienced travellers, with a population of 15 million people, as well as more than 5 million cars. At times, the noise can be deafening, and tourists should be extremely careful when crossing the road in front of some of the world's craziest drivers.

SEAN NUGENT

The Grand Bazaar food stall rivals that of the same name in Istanbul.

Due to strict sanctions enforced by the United States, Iran is a cash-only country. There are no ATMs and foreign credit cards are useless. There are money exchange offices throughout the city that accept US dollars or euros.

READ MORE *How totravelthroughIranby bus *Backpacking 70-year-old hitchhiking throughIran *Ask an expert: Is solotravelsafe in the Middle East?

Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are blocked and your best bet of keeping in contact with friends and family is via WhatsApp. Due to all of the above, the chaotic state of Tehran will come as a huge culture shock for most first-time visitors to Iran.

SEAN NUGENT

Golestan Palace, the former home of the Qajar royal family.

Nonetheless, the city is full of energy and excitement. The hustle and bustle of the Grand Bazaar is comparable to that of the same name in Istanbul. Bargains can be found throughout the labyrinth of corridors, and travellers should check out the collection of high-quality Persian rugs and artwork.

Just a stone's throw away is the architectural beauty of Golestan Palace, the former home of the Qajar royal family. Arguably the greatest attraction in the city, the palace has several unique structures set in a large quiet complex with a beautiful garden. One could easily spend a few hours here viewing the nine separate museums and sites, or lounging in the shade next to a dancing water fountain.

Head to the streetside market and buy some fresh cherries and peaches, a range of nuts, or even a salami-filled sub. Iranian food is not of the same calibre as Italy, France or Greece, but it is cheap, healthy, and filling. A kilo of cherries is around NZ$6, a price you would be lucky to find even during peak season in Central Otago. For dinner, it's hard to go past a succulent lamb or chicken kebab. Accompanied by rice and a selection of vegetables, it is simple, but affordable, usually costing around $5.

SEAN NUGENT

A view of Tehran on Mt Tochal trail

Tehran sits more than 1000 metres above sea level and lies at the foot of the imposing Alborz mountain range, where Iran's highest peak, Mt Damavand, rises to 5610m. In the foothills of its neighbour Mt Tochal lies the serene village of Darband, a definite must-visit while in Tehran. Like something out of a fairytale, a crystal clear river runs down through the village, with waterfalls, chasms, and an abundance of greenery creating the perfect setting for relaxation. For hiking enthusiasts, a trail out of the village winds its way up Tochal and provides an outstanding view of the city below.

Despite the size of Tehran, the drinking water is safe, as are the streets. Iranian people are remarkably friendly and will often approach you to ask where you'refrom and welcome you to their country. Thieves are very uncommon, and you will feel safe wherever you are in the city (although watch out while crossing the road!). As is the case in other Middle Eastern nations, women are required to wear a hijab in public and it is customary for both genders to cover their shoulders and wear some form of trousers. In summer when temperatures in the city often hover around 40 degrees celsius, this way of dress can be difficult to maintain. It's best to think ahead and pack very light clothing that will suit the conditions.

As Tehran is so high above sea level, winters often bring snowfall to the city. In 2014, one snow drift left over 2m of snow in parts of the city. The surrounding mountains are also home to some of the best skiing in the world. Dizin and Shemshak resorts are both less than two hours' drive out of Tehran and cost less than half than what it does for a day's skiing here in New Zealand.

SEAN NUGENT

The serene village of Darband, a definite must-visit while in Tehran.

As Iran has been virtually cut off from the Western world, its people are not strong English speakers, even amongst the youth. Therefore, it would be wise to learn some Persian phrases, as you will need to deal with things in Persian outside of tourist attractions or public spaces like the metro or Grand Bazaar.

Venturing into Iran will throw you out of your depth and give you a massive culture shock. But in a world where travelling has become significantly easier with improvements to technology and English becoming a global language, Iran brings a fresh challenge to even the most experienced traveller. There a few other places on the globe that allow you to fully embrace the culture and have a truly unique experience away from home.

Getting there Several airlines fly into Tehran, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and AirAsia. Built in 2004, Imam Khomeini Airport is located about 45 minutes drive outside of the city. Taxis and buses are available outside and there are plans the Tehran Metro will extend to the airport soon. The capital also serves as a great outpost to travel around the rest of the country, with the Caspian Sea lying in the north, and the beautiful city of Isfahan lying in a few hours south.

Sean Nugent is a 21-year old Massey University journalism student who has recently returned from couchsurfing in Iran.

-Stuff

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Couchsurfing in Iran: A country of culture - Stuff.co.nz

Lena Epstein Published 10:48 p.m. ET Aug. 6, 2017

U.S. policy has essentially boosted Tehrans ability to foment terrorism and threaten American interests, Lena Epstein writes.(Photo: Vahid Salemi / AP)

When Sen. Debbie Stabenow joined 41 of her Democratic Senate colleagues to vote for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, more commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, back in 2015, they made a catastrophic foreign policy mistake that has left the U.S, Israel, and the international community at large much less secure.

As recently as July 27, their mistake once again became painfully obvious when Iran conducted a successful launch of a long-range missile into space: such a blatant pretext for continued advancement of its ICBM program, youd have to be completely naive not to realize it. But, given the terms of the deal negotiated under President Obama, this type of activity isnt a violation of the nuclear deal.

Iran is free to continue testing and perfecting its nuclear delivery systems, just as long as it doesnt enrich uranium or plutonium to dangerous levels. This is not what I consider a comprehensive plan to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of the worlds most prolific state sponsor of terror, the same state that has explicitly called for the annihilation of the state of Israel.

As a result of the deal, Iran has experienced a windfall of cash flowing into its coffers. With sanctions eased and foreign assets unfrozen, Iran has had an influx of over $100 billion, which it has used to double down on terrorist activities, and dramatically expand its military budget.

The consequences can be felt throughout the already unstable Middle East as Iran provides support to Hamas and Hezbollah, and actively works to further destabilize Syria by sending thousands of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to support Bashar al-Assads brutal regime that has slaughtered and displaced millions of Syrians. U.S. policy has essentially bolstered Irans ability to carry out these terrorist activities and threaten American interests in the region, including putting American service members, stationed in the Middle East, at risk.

This cannot continue. A nuclear-armed Iran poses an existential threat to one of our closest allies, Israel, and puts American security in jeopardy. Both of our U.S. senators here in Michigan Stabenow and Gary Peters voted in favor of this reprehensible deal.

Stabenows vote on the Iran deal is one of the key factors that spurred me, an American, a Jewish woman, and a staunch supporter of Israel, to enter the U.S. Senate race and take her on next November. A member of Congress is no friend of Israel if he or she doesnt vote in our close allys best interest when it counts the most when there is a deal on the table that puts the Jewish states very existence in danger.

The American people opposed the Iran deal by a 2 to 1 margin, and yet were in this perilous situation because Stabenow pushed it through anyway. We cant keep sending the same people back to Washington and expect different results.

We need elected officials who support Israel because its a moral obligation, not because its politically expedient.

Lena Epstein is the third-generation owner and general manager of Southfield-based Vesco Oil Corp.

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Column: US needs to stand up to Iran - The Detroit News