Deutsche Bahn

Has said it will end its two projects in Iran by September due to “altered banking practices” resulting from the reimposition of U.S. sanctions; projects were undertaken between Deutsche Bahn subsidiary DB Engineering and Consulting jointly with Iranian rail operator Bonyad Eastern Railways and Iranian state railway RAI. ("German rail operator, Deutsche Telekom end Iran projects," Reuters, August 16, 2018.)

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More recently, on July 29, 2017, following a meeting between the Iranian Minister of Transport Abbas Akhoundi and Germany’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Brigitte Zypries, the Tehran Times reported, “Akhoundi also held talks with Ronald Pofalla, the board member for infrastructure at Deutsche Bahn AG, who said transferring knowledge and technology to Iran is on the agenda.”  (Tehran Times, “Iran, Germany mull over expanding economic, banking ties,” 7/29/2017).

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On May 21, 2017, the Financial Tribune reported that a “memorandum of understanding was signed between Iran’s Bon Rail Company, a rail passenger transport firm affiliated with Iran’s Mostazafan Foundation, and German rail company Deutsche Bahn AG on the sidelines of the Fifth International Exhibition of Rail Transportation, Related Industries and Equipment, which was held in Tehran on May 15-18.” (Financial Tribune, “Iran Signs Rail MoU With Deutsche Bahn,” 5/21/2017).

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In May 2017, an MoU was signed between Iran’s Bon Rail Company, a rail passenger transport firm affiliated with Iran’s Mostazafan Foundation and Deutsche Bahn.

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Deutsche Bahn AG is a leading transportation and logistics company with numerous subsidiaries. It operates transport networks via rail, land, ocean and air, for both passengers and freight. The company has annual revenues of around 30 billion euros, and is one of the largest companies of its kind in the world (Company Website). 

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One of Deutsche Bahn AG's subsidiaries, DB Schenker, is a partner company of Meshkin Co Ltd (Subsidiary Website), a shipping company that operates exclusively out of Iran (Meshkin Website). Meshkin is responsible for a significant portion of Iranian exports shipping, and its website explains that "In the near future we will be witnessing a remarkable jump in petrochemical exports, made available from investments in the gas fields of South Pars" (Meshkin Website). 

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Additionally, DB Schenker itself has an Iranian subsidiary, Delta Bar Int'l Transport and Shipping Services (Subsidiary Website). Delta Bar has an annual sales volume of $11 million (Business Monitor, subscription needed).