TEHRAN – Italian companies are keen on active cooperation with Iran on its oil, gas, and petrochemical industries in post sanctions era, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said.

Envisaging a brighter perspective for Tehran-Rome ties, the official added that Italian companies are determined to expand their ties with Iranian private and government sectors, the Shana news agency quoted Gentiloni as saying on Friday.

The new era in Iran-western countries, especially Italy, has already started from July 14 when the historic nuclear accord was signed up and now, foreign investors face Iran’s open doors, Gentiloni noted.

The Italian authority added that Italy was Iran’s major trading partner 10 years ago. Hence, we seek to resume our relations with Iran in the near future, a capacity we hope to actualize through bilateral cooperation with Iran.

*** Eni on the lookout for Iranian oil, gas sanctions lifting

Claudio Descalzi, the general manager of Italian oil and gas Company, Eni, stated that the company is looking forward to back to Iranian oil and gas industries with the sanctions lifted.

“We will be back to Iranian energy market as soon as sanctions are lifted practically in the next few months,” Descalzi said in a meeting with Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh in Tehran.

“We left Iran at no time and kept our office at Tehran active, but we continue our cooperation with Iran especially in the South Pars gas field and Darkhowin oilfield in compliance with Iran’s new model of oil.”

AK/