French FM Fabius in Iran for Talks with Senior Officials

Local Editor

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius arrived Wednesday in the Iranian capital, Tehran, to hold talks with the country's high-ranking officials.

Fabius, who arrived in Tehran on Wednesday morning, is scheduled to sit down with President Hassan Rouhani and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

During his day-long visit to Iran, the top French diplomat is also expected to sit down with Iranian Minister of Industry, Trade and Mines Mohammad-Reza Nematzadeh as well as the head of Iran's Department of the Environment, Masoumeh Ebtekar.

Upon arrival in Tehran, Fabius said that an economic delegation of French big companies will visit Iran in September.

Fabius' visit to Iran is the first by a French foreign minister to the Islamic Republic in 12 years.

The French senior official's visit to Iran comes as giant French auto makers, including Peugeot and Renault, are eager to return to the Iranian market following the conclusion of Iran's nuclear talks.

French energy company Total has also expressed willingness to revive ties with oil- and gas-rich Iran.

Before sanctions were imposed against Iran over its nuclear program, car makers Peugeot and Renault were major players in the Iranian auto industry while and Total was also involved in the country's oil sector.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team