Economic Diplomacy is a new concept yet to be dealt with in detail in the political-economy-related literature in Iran, lacking the required theoretical frameworks. Studying and learning from conceptualizations, strategies, and operational programs in countries well advanced in this area can contribute to the development of new concepts and approaches and planning in the area of economic diplomacy in Iran. France is among countries that have in recent years taken new initiatives in its economic diplomacy, studying and learning from which will be useful for Iran in present circumstances. The lessons that can be learned from the French economic diplomacy, include the following:

• Integration of government agencies in charge of promotion of trade and foreign investment into one entity;
• Publication of an official document as the National Economic Diplomacy, and clarification of strategies towards safeguarding the national interests of France;
• The pivotal role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the promotion of trade diplomacy, in such a way that 60 percent of the time of French embassies is dedicated to trading policy;
• Protection of small and medium-sized enterprises in areas involved with innovation, as a key objective;
• Monitoring various markets by "Business France" as the Government agency in charge of trade diplomacy;
• Holding business to business seminars and meetings in various countries;
• The establishment of "French Foreign Trade Advisors (CNCCEF)", an institution comprising four thousand members voluntarily advising the Government;
• Utilizing the Mutual learning strategy, and employing diplomats in the area of business and business people in the area of diplomacy in short periods of time, in order to create synergy and build common language and understanding;
• Endeavoring to reform the structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and coordinating it with the requirements of promoting trade diplomacy in a globalized world;
• Establishing Economic Councils in French embassies with the participation of private sector as well as the Ministries involved in trade diplomacy;
• Mobilization of soft power tools towards promoting trade diplomacy;
• Targeting foreign visits of the Minister of Foreign Affairs at promoting trade diplomacy;
• Protecting French nationals abroad;
• Holding training courses for the employees of the Ministry of Foreign affairs, in order to make them more acquainted with economic diplomacy issues.

Key Points:
Although all the above-mentioned points are important in the formulation of Iran's economic diplomacy in the present circumstances, the following can be considered as the most relevant:

• The Publication of Iran's official economic diplomacy document, which can enhance transparency in this area for the government employees and economic actors, as well as our trade partners.
• The establishment of an agency as Foreign Trade Advisors. Iran has effective networks in various layers of communities in the region. Establishing a network of advisors based on this valuable asset, must be considered as a viable option.
• Reforming the structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in such a way that it better serves economic diplomacy. The prevailing approach in Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is driven by "geopolitical, cold-war" politics and needs to be rebalanced with "geo-economics, globalization" discourses.
• The establishment of economic councils in Iranian embassies, with the participation of Ministries involved in trade diplomacy, as well as the private sector, in particular in the capitals of our major trade partners is also advisable.
• Utilizing the Mutual learning strategy, and employing diplomats in the area of business and business people in the area of diplomacy, in order to create synergy and build common language and understanding is another lesson to be learned from French economic diplomacy.