Iranian President Hassan Rowhani, left, and Italian Premier Matteo Renzi talk to each during their meeting at the Campidoglio, Capitol Hill, in Rome, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi started a two-day visit to Iran on Tuesday, the highest ranking European leader to do so since world powers completed a nuclear deal with Tehran.

Accompanied by a 250-person delegation, Renzi is seeking to re-establish Italy’s economic clout in the Islamic republic which, before sanctions, made it Iran’s number one European trade partner.

The official IRNA news agency said Renzi would meet Iran’s President Hassan Rowhani, who visited Rome in January just days after sanctions were lifted under Tehran’s deal with six world powers.

Annual trade between Iran and Italy peaked at about $8 billion but a decade of nuclear-related sanctions saw it plummet to $1.8 billion currently.

When Rowhani visited Rome the two countries agreed initial terms on long-term contracts that could be valued as high as $19.4 billion, including deals in the oil, transport and shipping sectors.

Iran has said it wants European help to modernize and expand its rail, road and air networks as well as seeking investment to boost its manufacturing base, notably in the automobile industry.

During his visit, Rowhani also talked of reconstructing a relationship between “two superpowers of beauty and culture” that dates back to the days of the ancient Roman and Persian empires.

Related articles across the web

• Trade In Focus As Iranian President Travels To Pakistan
• News, Rumors, and Opinions Wednesday Night 3-23-16
• Russian Defense Minister In Tehran
• Iran: Detainees Denied Fair Legal Representation, Says HRW
• How Iranian Reformists' Victory Can Turn Into Defeat?
• Obama in Argentina to reset relations, strengthen trade ties
• Forced off the streets, Iran's activists campaign online
• The great candidate cull
• Obama arrives in Argentina to reset relations after years of tension
• Relaxed visa rules between Russia, Iran take effect February 6