Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro reacts during his meeting with industrial workers of Orinoco Siderurgica in the city of Guayana, Bolivar state, Venezuela, on Oct. 15, 2015. (Xinhua File photo)

TEHRAN, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Mahan Air has launched direct flights to the Venezuelan capital Caracas, Press TV reported on Tuesday.

A number of Iranian Foreign Ministry officials as well as delegates from Mahan Air visited Caracas to discuss maintaining regular flights between the two countries, spokesman of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization Reza Jafarzadeh was quoted as saying.

The move is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties as the United States tightens sanctions on both countries.

It is also a boost to Mahan Air's bid to break free from U.S. sanctions on the airline which Washington accuses of providing financial and other supports to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The United States imposed sanctions on the Mahan Air in 2011. France and Germany banned the airline's flights earlier this year under the U.S. pressures.