TEHRAN, Iran — Although France opened discussions with Iran in 2003, it then became one of the toughest countries in opposition to the Iranian nuclear program, especially after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s election. Despite this stance, which was confirmed by France’s reaction to the draft of the Joint Plan of Action last October in Geneva, French companies were among the first to react to take advantage of the new situation created by the conclusion of the interim deal of Nov. 24.

I was part of a delegation comprising more than 120 French companies that recently traveled to Tehran to restore bilateral contacts following years of sanctions. This was the first of that size for several years.

What strikes you most when you arrive in Tehran is how Westernized it is. Even though the country has suffered from years of war with its neighbor, Iraq, and from international sanctions as a consequence of the nuclear dispute, it remains quite developed and is operating reasonably well. Despite heavy snow at the time of the delegation’s visit, roads and streets were clean. Internet connections and telecommunications were readily available everywhere, and not only in the luxury hotels. Women are obliged to wear a veil, but otherwise they are quite free to dress as they wish. The state's main deciders all speak English (if not French, German or Italian), and many of them have been educated in the best universities in Europe or the United States.

With particular regard to the United States, it is amazing how much its presence can already be felt in Iran, not only on T-shirts and sportswea, but also because Apple, Coca-Cola and IBM, to mention but a few, are very well-developed brands within the city of Tehran.