THE Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), world's second biggest shipping line, has returned to Iran more than six years away, reports Tehran's unofficial Tasnim News Agency.

A few weeks before the implementation of a recent nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, which will end anti-Iranian sanctions, the Italian-Swiss company's ship MSC Domitille arrived at the second terminal of largest Iranian port Shahid Rajaee New Year's Eve.

The Panamanian-flagged, 9,400-TEU MSC Domitille left Shanghai with 1,162 TEU on board before arriving at Shahid Rajaee Port on its first call in the company's weekly service.

The last MSC ship that berthed in Iran was the 14,000-TEU MSC Beatrice in 2009, which also docked at Shahid Rajaee. 

A day after the nuclear deal was finalised between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France, and Germany) back in July, MSC's CEO Diego Aponte welcomed the deal, saying his company is willing to cooperate with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) in diverse areas.