Playing with the Devil

Poland’s foreign minister visited Tehran three months after Iran signed an interim nuclear deal in Geneva with the international community . 

Although Poland is not involved in the negotiations of the P5+1 world powers with Tehran, it is obliged to follow the sanctions imposed by the EU.

“Iran is an important partner for us. We hope that Tehran will find the way to convince the world that its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes and that the final agreement will be signed,” said Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski after meeting his Iranian counterpart.

 “We are happy with our partnership with Poland, but much more can be done,” said Sikorski's Iranian counterpart.

The two ministers agreed to boost bilateral economic cooperation, mainly in the realms of pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and the food industry. There are many parts of the economy which are not affected by the international sanctions, and Poland wants to take advantage of this loophole.

Detailed plans for future bilateral cooperation are not yet on the table. But the visit of the Polish foreign minister was an effort to put out feelers in advance of the trip here next month of the Polish deputy prime minister for the economy, Janusz Piechocinski, with a group of businessmen.

Foreign Minister Sikorski also came with more than 20 business leaders, but their meetings in Tehran were canceled after cutting short their visit due to the turmoil in Ukraine.

Cooperation also exists between Poland and Iran in the academic arena. The Polish Institute of International Affairs – a Warsaw-based think tank – has signed an agreement with Iran's Institute for Political and International Studies, which is closely connected to the Iranian government. The agreement includes exchanges of academics and other experts, and a Polish-Iranian round-table that will be held at least once a year.

“This is the sign that barriers are breaking down between two countries and of the openness of Polish academics to dialogue with our Iranian colleagues,” Marcin Zaborowski, CEO of the Polish institute, who signed the agreement in Tehran.

Poland was not directly involved in imposing sanctions on Tehran over the last decade and thus not publicly attacked by Iranian authorities.