Ashton Describes Tehran Visit as Constructive
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton held a meeting with Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani on Sunday during which she said had a "constructive day" in Tehran.
During her meeting with Shamkhani, Ashton described today as a "constructive day."
The visiting European official, who arrived in Tehran on Saturday, has attended separate meetings with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as well as Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani earlier today.
She has also held a meeting with Former Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Saeed Jalili, who also served as Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator in the talks between Tehran and the six major world powers.
Ashton is the first EU high-ranking official to visit Iran in 6 years, following her predecessor Javier Solana’s trip to Iran in 2008.
She liaises with Iran on behalf of the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) in diplomatic efforts related to Tehran's peaceful nuclear case.
Iran and the world powers wrapped up their latest round of nuclear talks in the Austrian capital on February 20.
In the meantime, the two sides are gearing up for a meeting of political directors on March 17, following the negotiations among technical experts which are now underway in Vienna.
The whole talks are aimed at resolving the West’s decade-long standoff over Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities.