The first Air France flight between Paris and Tehran for eight years landed in the Islamic republic's capital on Sunday, bearing a government minister and a business delegation. The airline's route had been suspended since 2008 because of international sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear programme. However, sanctions have been lifted under an accord with world powers that has now been in force for three months.
Flight AF738 from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle touched down at Tehran's Imam Khomeini international airport at 1530 GMT, 20 minutes ahead of schedule, an AFP journalist said.
French Transport Minister Alain Vidalies was on board, along with members of a delegation some 15-strong who will spend two days in the Iranian capital. At a welcoming ceremony Vidalies said he was "proud of the resumption of these direct flights" and said being "able to move between Paris and Tehran was crucial... for entering into partnerships".