Renzi to visit Iran 'in coming months': Rouhani

Rome, Jan 27 (IANS/AKI) Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will visit Iran in the next few months to strengthen bilateral economic relations, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said.

Rouhani made the remarks during a visit to Rome that has yielded billions of dollars in business deals.

"Italian PM @matteorenzi will travel to Iran in the coming months to boost economic ties," Rouhani said in a tweet.

Rouhani is on a four-day visit to Italy and France, where he looks to rebuild Iran's ties with the West after crippling economic sanctions and promote his country as a pillar of strength and stability in an increasingly fraught and fragmented region.

Meeting Rouhani on Monday at Rome's town hall, Renzi said: "The best is yet to come."

Some $20 billion of accords covering industries from natural gas to high-speed rail were signed after talks between Renzi and Rouhani.

Rouhani said Italy used to be Iran's biggest European trading partner, and "we are sure that a good collaboration between our two countries will happen again."

Renzi said Italy's small and medium-sized companies will also benefit from a new relationship that will extend beyond the oil and gas industries.

As much as $50 billion a year may flow into Iran following the landmark nuclear deal that ended international economic sanctions, Iran's central bank governor Valiollah Seif said last week.

Under last July's deal with world powers, Iran agreed to scale back its sensitive nuclear work.

--IANS/AKI

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