Iranian President Hassan Rouhani flew to Italy today at the start of his first official visit to Europe, looking to sign multi-billion dollar contracts to help to modernise Iran's economy after years of crippling financial sanctions. Heading a 120-strong delegation of Iranian business leaders and ministers, Rouhani will spend two days in Rome before flying to France on Wednesday, hoping to burnish Tehran's international credentials at a time of turmoil across the Middle East. While diplomacy will figure high on his agenda, trade ties are likely to dominate the headlines, with Iran announcing plans to buy more than 160 European planes, mainly from Airbus , on the eve of Rouhani's departure. Officials in Rome said Italian companies were poised to sign deals worth up to 17 billion euros over the next two days, including in the energy and steel sectors. The deals will give a boost to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who is struggling to revive Italy's underperforming economy. A pragmatist elected in 2013, Rouhani championed a deal with world powers last year under which Iran curbed its disputed nuclear programme in return for the end of U.S., EU and United Nations sanctions this...
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