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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

Germany’s Deutsche Bahn Ends Operations in Iran

A passenger enters a train in Munich, Germany, May 20, 2015. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

German state-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn is phasing out projects in Iran after Washington imposed new sanctions against Tehran.

Deutsche Bahn is involved in two projects in Iran via its subsidiary DB Engineering&Consulting, a spokeswoman said on Thursday.

"Both projects will be ended in August and September 2018 respectively," she said. "Due to the altered banking practice we have sought to bring the contract to an amicable and timely conclusion."

New US sanctions against Iran took effect last week and several European companies have suspended plans to invest in Iran in light of the measures, including oil major Total as well as carmakers PSA, Renault and Daimler.

Washington said firms doing business with Iran would be barred from doing business with the United States.

The first round of sanctions against Iran covers financial transactions and imports of raw materials. Further measures due to hit in November will affect Iran's central bank and the vital hydrocarbon industry.

Deutsche Bahn signed a memorandum of understanding with the Iranian rail operator Bonyad Eastern Railways (BonRail) in May 2017 for a project aimed to identify and address potential in rolling stock and organization, the German firm's spokeswoman said.

The second project, which started around 1-1/2 years ago, was a consulting contract for Iranian state railway RAI that included restructuring the company, she added.

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