Iran has invited Italian firms to finance infrastructure projects in the Islamic Republic, a top official was quoted as saying in an Iran Daily report.

"In implementing any project, our condition is that Italian companies should put the same project on tender for Iranian contractors and operators," deputy road and urban development minister Asghar Fakhriyeh Kashan said, according to the report, which cited Fars News Agency.

Italian companies can only take part in financing Iran's infrastructural projects, he explained.

"One such project is the Qom-Arak high-speed train project which will eventually be linked to Tehran-Qom-Isfahan railway network,” he noted.

Commenting on the Tehran-Hamadan railway project, he said: "We have started feasibility studies on this project and if the results are favourable, we will sign a relevant agreement with Italian companies."