German aircraft engine maker MTU Aero Engines is in talks with several Iranian airlines over supplying maintenance services to their ageing fleets, its chief executive told a German weekly.

"MTU has great interest in supporting Iranian airlines with maintenance services," Reiner Winkler told Euro am Sonntag, adding that the talks with Iranian companies are done in consultation with German and US export control authorities.

"In Iran, a lot of Western-manufactured aircraft engines are in use which have an elevated demand for maintenance," he added.

Iran's economy will be open for investment once sanctions are removed after its July 14 deal with world powers placing limits on its disputed nuclear programme.

MTU expects strong growth in its maintenance and spare parts units from 2018, Winkler told the magazine.

On Thursday, MTU had lowered its 2015 sales forecast for its military and commercial maintenance division, sending its shares down 4 per cent. – Reuters