I act for an international prawning company, the CEO of which is keen to establish an operation in the resource-rich Persian Gulf. During a trade mission referred to in an earlier letter I established a very good rapport with several ministers and senior government officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran. My client wants me to make the necessary introductions and negotiate a contract should the opportunity arise.

Before I discuss this trip in any detail I should first tell you of additional ‘episodes’ associated with my earlier visit to Iran.

I was part of the largest delegation to Iran since the end of the eight-year war between Iraq and Iran. A long-standing border dispute between the two countries led to Iraq invading Iran in late 1980. It is estimated approximately half a million soldiers and civilians died in total before a cease-fire agreement was brokered by the United Nations.

Our trade mission was in Iran for two weeks. Most previous missions stayed for one or two days. During the course of the visit we met with various ministers, deputy ministers, government officials and business leaders.

Sarcheshmeh copper mine, Iran.

The visit wasn’t just a flag-waving exercise. Two of the Australian companies were heavily involved in the construction of abattoir facilities and together we negotiated an agreement to build new abattoirs and cool rooms. Other companies were involved in boat construction and the fishing industry. We visited a pilchard cannery on the Caspian Sea. Inappropriately dressed in a suit I followed the operations manager around the waterlogged facility. With soaking wet shoes and socks I followed him into a snap freezer while the potential beneficiaries of our visit stood high and dry outside. To avoid snap freezing I quickly retreated.

Mining and associated companies also formed part of the delegation and together we travelled to mine sites and processing facilities. At the copper mine in Sarcheshmeh the cold of the fish cannery took its toll. Several businessmen felt unwell. Our hosts quickly arranged visits to the mine doctor.

Later they spoke in glowing terms of the doctor, not for her medical expertise but for her stunning looks. Suddenly the balance of the delegation also felt unwell. Strangely, they were all sick except me and I was the only person subjected to the extreme temperatures.

Government Ministers and officials were impressed with our willingness to be heavily involved in every aspect of the trade mission.

Back to the original purpose of this letter.

In the lobby of the Tehran hotel I am surprised to see one of the directors of an engineering company who was part of the previous trade mission four years ago. In the interests of commercial confidentiality I shall call this company ‘M’ for ‘mining’.

“I have been to Iran nine times since our trade mission,” the director of M informed me. “Although we appear to have reached an agreement worth eighty million dollars to our company there always seems to be an impediment to getting the damn thing signed. Whatever you can do to help would be really appreciated.”

My client and I have dinner with two senior ministers and government officials in the President’s dining suite. “How has your visit been so far,” asked the Minister for Mines.

“As always the hospitality of your people has been fantastic,” I replied. “I am confident a mutually beneficial result can be achieved. As an aside I was surprised to bump into a director of M today and he expressed his frustration at not completing a contract negotiated over the last four years.”

Whilst I was talking the Minister appeared to glare at his Deputy before quietly speaking to him in their language. Perhaps that was sufficient to get the job done because the following afternoon when I again saw the director of M with a beaming smile of satisfaction he hastily informed me the contract had been signed by all parties. Success gives one a sense of satisfaction.

***

We are collected at our hotel by Laila, a young Iranian woman who is an Austrade interpreter and trade commissioner. We have been invited to a barbeque at the home of a Professor of Economics at Tehran University.

As we cruised down the main highway to an outer suburb in the foothills of Tehran there is an unexpected traffic jam ahead. Laila reached into the glove compartment and wrestled with a box of tissues.

“The Revolutionary Guards have a road block up ahead. They are checking cars to see if any women are wearing makeup or jewellery,” Laila explained as she quickly wiped her lipstick away.

After our arrival at the barbeque where I am invited to a whisky or cognac – remember Iran is a fundamentalist Muslim country that prohibits alcohol – I contemplated the occasional hypocrisy I had witnessed. The Professor, his wife Donya, Laila, my client and I enjoyed a warm, balmy evening by the pool.

I was jolted out of this contemplation when our host’s daughter ran from the house yelling, “Mr xyz is here, quick cover up.” The man in question was apparently a cousin of the President. Donya and Laila wore short-sleeved blouses without a headscarf or hijab.

Donya quickly reached for her hijab. Laila ignored the young woman’s pleadings and defiantly stated, “To hell with him. It’s a stupid system.”

More power to you Laila.

The following day, in a quiet and private moment as we drove between meetings the Minister asked, “What do we need to do to have our country more accepted internationally; to attract tourists to Iran?”

I took a deep breath. “You need to treat women differently. Women shouldn’t be required to wear particular clothing. They like a choice.

Women should also be permitted to wear makeup and jewellery if they so choose. These are not matters the state should be enforcing. Freedom of choice and freedom of expression are important.”

There, he did ask! The Minister merely nodded and gazed out the car window. Obviously he didn’t object too strongly to that view because when he visited Australia some months later he announced at a dinner with about 300 business people that I was “the architect of improved relations between Australia and the Islamic republic of Iran.”

A slight exaggeration methinks!

Gordon d’Venables has been, inter alia, a teacher, soldier, farmhand, lawyer and businessman. As a lawyer he travelled extensively for international clients. His letters from various times and places around the globe (PNG, England, Ireland, France, USA, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Iran and others) refer to some of his experiences. Gordon’s recently published book, The Medusa Image, can be obtained from Pegasus at www.pegasuspublishers.com, ISBN: 9781784658939 www.amazon.com.au or https://www.amazon.com/Medusa-Image-Gordon-DVenables/dp/1784658936

GORDON D’VENABLES: Letters.

GORDON D’VENABLES: Letter from USA, pre-Soviet Union Breakup.

GORDON D’VENABLES: Letter from Belgrade.

GORDON D’VENABLES: Letter from Iran.

GORDON D’VENABLES: Letter from India.

GORDON D’VENABLES: Letter from Saudi Arabia.

GORDON D’VENABLES: Letter from Vietnam.

GORDON D’VENABLES: Letter from Germany.

GORDON D’VENABLES: Letter from London.

GORDON D’VENABLES: Second Letter From London.