he deal was done today during the state visit to France of Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, and is expected to be the first step in a process that should result in the establishment of concessions that will renovate, extend and operate each of the two airports in 2016.

The gateways are the second and fifth busiest airports respectively in Iran. 

The airport in Mashhad, which handled 8.2 million passengers in 2014, is located in the northeast of the country and serves the country's second largest city, a holy city that attracts more than 20 million pilgrims every year.

Isfahan airport, with accommodated 2.6 million passengers in 2014, serves Iran's third largest city, the capital of the Persian empire in the 16th and 17th centuries, renowned for its rich cultural and historic heritage.