TEHRAN (Tasnim) � The European Commission has dispatched a delegation to Tehran as part of plans to boost energy ties with Iran, one of the world�s richest countries in terms of oil and gas reserves.

Led by Gerassimos Thomas, the European Commission�s Deputy Director General in the Directorate-General for Energy (ENER), the delegation is in Iran to undertake a first "technical assessment mission" for exploring energy ties with Tehran.

The European representatives are planned to hold meetings with officials at Iran�s Oil Ministry, Energy Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).

The visiting team also hopes to finalize agreements for close cooperation between the EC and Iran in oil and gas industry, power generation, renewable energies and improving the efficiency of energy use.

Energy is one of the main sectors on which the European Union wants to work with Iran as part of long-term, strategic Iran-EU ties, following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a lasting nuclear deal between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).

Earlier this year, European Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete had announced plans for cooperation with Iran in the shipment of gas supplies to southern Europe through a route known as the "Southern Gas Corridor".

By Tasnim News Agency