Taiwanese container line Wan Hai has become the first international shipping company to resume services to Iran following the easing of EU sanctions.

A Wan Hai vessel is scheduled to arrive in the Port of Shahid Rajaei on 24 July, according to deputy head of the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organisation, Ali Jahandideh, in a report from the Islamic Republic News Agency. "We have had enormous measures on entrance of local and foreign shipping lines to Shaheed Rajayee Port as a container port,” said Jahandideh.

On top of Wan Hai, further lines – rumoured to be from India, China, Taiwan and South Korea, according to local news sources - are expected to return in the coming weeks. The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) dissolved its 38-year old joint venture with Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), Irano Hind, last year due to the to the difficulties it faced due to to international sanctions against Iran.

Jahandideh added that Iran has announced that Port Shahid Rajaei is ready to receive both container and non-container vessels.

Earlier this year, Tasnim news agency quoted Seyed Ali Estiri, vp for Maritime Affairs at the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran as saying that five major shipping lines had announced intention to return to Iranian ports: “Given the positive international atmosphere following the Geneva (nuclear) deal, and the activation of Shaheed Rajaie Port’s second operator, a number of foreign shipping lines have announced their interest in resuming traffic to (and from) the port.”

Previously, EU rulings had sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) and 17 of its subsidiaries by $40-100 per ton for imports of European goods. However, sanctions were annulled on September 16 last year.