France’s Vinci Airports has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Iranian government to expand and operate two international airports in Iran, according to reports by French media.

The first airport, Mashhad International, is located in the northeastern part and is the second-largest airport in the country, while Isfahan International is located more than 300 kilometres south of the capital Tehran.

The expansion of the two airports is part of Iran’s Roads and Urban Development Ministry projects, which were announced in October 2015.

According to this plan, one new greenfield airport is to be built each in the Khuzestan and Bushehr provinces, in addition to the expansion of five existing international airports to accommodate rising local and international travel demand.

The contract is one of the latest in a raft of deals signed between European states and the Iranian government following the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions on the Islamic Republic, as well as those signed between the Iranian and French governments following a state visit to Paris by President Hassan Rouhani.

It is also understood an additional MoU has been signed between Urban and Development Ministry and French firms Aeroports de Paris (ADP) and Bouygues for the development of Imam Khomeini International airport (IKIA). In October, MEED reported that the ministry has been accepting letters of interest (LoIs) from major firms, including both French companies, for the $2.8bn construction of a second terminal at IKIA.