DUBAI: Italy’s foreign minister arrived in Tehran on Tuesday, the latest in a series of European officials seeking closer ties with Iran.

Senior government ministers from France, Germany and Serbia have been among visitors to Iran since the July 14 accord which raised the prospect of banking and trade sanctions on Iran being lifted, perhaps around the end of this year.

Before his visit to Iran, Minister Paolo Gentiloni was quoted by the Iranian Mehr news agency as saying: “Italy’s economic ties with Iran have definitely suffered during the sanctions era, but the recent nuclear agreement will serve as an opportunity for a gradual improvement in the two countries’ relations.” Gentiloni was accompanied by Italian Economic Development Minister Federica Guidi and an economic delegation.