“Spain is interested in cooperating with Iran in the development of oil, gas, petrochemical, and refining fields as well as construction of equipment and energy optimization projects which are among our plans in the industry,” he said following a meeting on Monday with the visiting Spanish Industry, Energy and Tourism Minister Jose Manuel Soria,

Iran and Spain agreed to continue their cooperation, the minister added, saying that Iran welcomes investment of Spanish firms in its petrochemical industry.

“We also proposed the Spanish side manufacturing of oil industry equipment in Iran,” Zangeneh told reporters.

The Iranian side also suggested that for the presence of Spanish firms in Iran, they should not limit themselves to the domestic market, rather think of regional market for exports of goods and equipment, the minister said.

An executive of major oil firm Repsol accompanied the Spanish minister in the talks between Zangeneh and Soria. 

Soria and a delegation of Spanish businesses are scheduled to hold talks with their official Iranian counterparts as well as Iranian business people in Iran.

European countries are looking for lucrative big investment opportunities in Iran that could be unlocked by a nuclear deal in the post-sanctions period.