TEHRAN (FNA)- French Transport Minister Alain Vidalies said Iran and Airbus will finalize the agreement on purchasing 118 planes from the French manufacturer by next week.

Vidalies made the announcement in Tehran on Monday after Air France resumed flights to Tehran Sunday night as part of larger French and European efforts to rebuild trade ties long frozen by sanctions.

The direct flight from Paris to Tehran was the first since 2008. Minister Vidalies and a business leaders' delegation were on board flight AF 378 that took off from Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport.

Vidalies said banking issues still remain, yet both the Iranian and French sides are determined to push through the purchase deals and after-sales services.

According to the official, Iran and France will also cooperate in the aviation industry, training courses, infrastructure projects, flying schools, and small businesses.

He said most of the projects will be financed and insured by French companies, adding that 10 percent of the equipment on Airbus are American-made, which requires trade permissions from the US government.

He however once again maintained that despite taking some time, the Airbus deals could be finalized soon.

In relevant remarks, Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhundi said last week that Iran and Airbus will soon finalize an agreement on purchasing 118 planes from the French manufacturer.

Akhundi denied media reports that there will be a major delay in implementing the contract.

The agreement on buying 118 Airbus planes was inked during President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Paris France on January 2016.

By Fars News Agency