Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni has met with Iranian officials in Tehran in the latest visit by European officials seeking closer trade ties after Iran's nuclear deal with six world powers.
Gentiloni was quoted on August 4 by Iran's Mehr news agency as saying the nuclear agreement "will serve as an opportunity for a gradual improvement" in relations between the two countries.
Italian Economic Development Minister Federica Guidi, who traveled to Tehran with Gentiloni's delegations, said Italy was interested in possible investments in Iran's automobile industry.
Senior ministers from France, Germany, and Serbia have been among the visitors to Tehran since the July 14 accord that has raised the prospects of banking and trade sanctions on Iran being lifted.
With formal ratification by all signatories and compliance by Iran, the lifting of sanctions could begin as soon as the end of 2015.