"Shipbuilder also seals $600 million deal to build two ships for the South Korean government"

SEOUL— Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. received a $700 million order to build 10 ships for Iran’s state-owned shipping company in a deal that signifies the Middle Eastern country’s return to the international market after a decade.

The deal is part of plans by Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and Iranian Offshore Oil Co., a subsidiary of state oil company National Iranian Oil Co., to spend a total of up to $2.5 billion to modernize their fleets.

Iranian shipping companies haven’t modernized their fleets since 2006, when the United Nations imposed wide-ranging sanctions against Tehran over its uranium-enrichment program. The sanctions began to be gradually lifted in January.

“This marks Iran’s first ship order since international sanctions were lifted early this year. Hyundai plans to provide technical support for Iran to run its shipyards as well,” the South Korean company said Sunday.