Greece and Iran want to do business — as much as possible in areas not affected by international sanctions against the latter — and much more when, and if, an embargo is lifted against Tehran.

That much was the essence of statements on Thursday by Greek FM Nikos Kotzias and his visiting Iranian  counterpart Mohammad Jivad Zarif.

Energy, expectedly, tops the list, with transports include as well. Greece’s leftist FM referred to the Greek private merchant fleet as a possible future benefactor, while both sides even heard talk of a direct Athens-Tehran air link, all theoretical cooperation, of

“Iran will not accept excessive demands regarding its nuclear programme that do not show the required respect, Zarif repeated.

Speaking about the “elephant in the room”, namely, Iran’s often shady nuclear program, Zarif told mostly local reporters that “Iran will not agree to being humiliated. If the other side respects what was agreed to at Lausanne … then there can be a comprehensive agreement that will be liable and balanced and can be viewed as a mutually respectful.”

If these conditions were met, then the agreements would be upheld. If there were excessive demands and renegotiations, it would be hard to expect an agreement beyond the deadline, he added.

Another top Iranian dignitary in town, deputy oil minister Amirhossein Zamani-Nia, met with Greek Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis