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Rouhani due in Paris as Iran drums up business with French

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani expected to secure valuable trade deals following lifting of sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani will arrive in France on Wednesday for the second leg of his state visit to Europe, after three days in Italy, reports the BBC.

Mr Rouhani is expected to secure valuable trade deals following the lifting of international sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme.

Among them is a likely agreement with French aircraft manufacturer Airbus for more than 100 new aircraft.

Mr Rouhani will also meet French President François Hollande.

Mr Rouhani's five-day visit to Italy and France is the first by an Iranian president in nearly two decades, as the Iranian president seeks to rebuild economic ties and secure new trade deals.

Iran is likely to need hundreds of new aircraft in the coming years as it re-establishes commercial air travel restricted by the sanctions, and French carmakers will once again be free to supply to the Islamic Republic.

As well as a deal for Airbus planes, contracts are likely to be signed with car manufacturers Peugeot and Renault, Mr Rouhani told reporters on Monday.

In Italy, Mr Rouhani met with prime minister Matteo Renzi and Pope Francis. Monday saw contracts worth around €17bn ($18.4bn; £12bn) signed between Iranian and Italian companies.

Read more of this report from the BBC.