- Looking for growth outside its home market, France's Orange (ORAN -0.8%) is in talks with Iran's Mobile Telecommunication Co. over areas of cooperation.
- Iran's population of 80M could provide new growth amid hot competition in French telecoms, now that international sanctions have been eased.
- Talks should conclude within a few months and are focused on a partnership rather than a stake sale, a source tells Bloomberg.
- Orange -- which has also aggressively pursued growth in Africa/Middle East -- is among the companies set to take part in the Iran Connect conference happening in Tehran next week.