European and Asian investments are moving fast into Iran, leaving the U.S. in the dust as some sanctions continue to keep American money out despite keen interest, an investor said Thursday.

Broad western sanctions against Iran were lifted in January this year after the government agreed to curb its nuclear program, spurring investment into the country with Airbus announcing a large $25 billion order of 118 airplanes while automaker Peugeot returned to the country with a 400 million euro ($435 million) deal.

Japan and Singapore have also signed bilateral trade deals with Iran recently.

The U.S. however is "nowhere in terms of trade" due to remaining sanctions over Iran's human rights policies and concerns about terrorism, David Grayson, chief executive of New York-based brokerage Auerbach Grayson told CNBC's "The Rundown" on Thursday.