Obama warns Iran is not open for business yet

Feb. 11, 2014
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President Obama holds a bilateral meeting with his French counterpart Francois Hollande in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 11, 2014. Hollande's three-day state visit to the US, which is designed to underscore historic ties and a burgeoning security relationship between America and its oldest ally, takes place as he tries to shrug off embarrassment over his love life. / JEWEL SAMAD AFP/Getty Images

by Aamer Madhani, USA TODAY

by Aamer Madhani, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON - President Obama vowed on Tuesday to come down like "a ton of bricks" on firms that violate sanctions against Iran, a blunt warning delivered after a group of more than 100 French executives traveled to Iran last week toexplore business opportunities.

The president's direct message, which came during a joint news conference with French President Francois Hollande, follows Republican and some Democratic lawmakers raising concerns that international firms are already trying to position themselves in case the Iran market opens up.

Last month, six world powers - including the USA and France - implemented an interim agreement in which they eased some sanctions against Tehran, while the Iranian regime agreed to cease certain nuclear activity.

The temporary deal has been met by a great measure of skepticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill. The P5+1 powers are set to sit down with Iran next week to begin work on what could become a permanent deal.

But Obama - following previous direct warnings from Secretary of