Act I:
France has asked the European Union to consider new sanctions against Iran over recent missile tests, in a request made shortly after the EU ended sanctions over Iran's nuclear program, officials have told The Associated Press.
Act II:
President Hassan Rouhani was accompanied on his official visit to Paris, the first by an Iranian president since 1999, by ministers and business leaders who announced deals including a joint venture between carmakers PSA Peugeot Citroen (PEUP.PA) and Iran Khodro and plans for Iran to buy 118 Airbus (AIR.PA) passenger planes to update its aging fleet.
And there were more deals so numerous that quoting them all would violate fair use of the article content.
Ponder the likelihood that France just used the threat of sanctions to get better trade deals with Iran.
And consider the sanctions threat as simply a response to Iran's opening bargaining shot.
What the heck, Iran won't target France, right? Just what are the odds of Paris being attacked, anyway?
Thus ends France's nuance lesson. For now, of course.
