Iran, EU to Start “High-Level Talks” on Various Issues: Zarif
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday announced that Tehran has agreed to have new round of talks with the European Union on a wide range of issues.
Speaking in a joint press conference with the visiting EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini in Tehran, Zarif said, “Today, we decided to start a new round of talks between Iran and the EU, which are called high-level talks.”
Zarif added that the talks will start in the near future between Iranian deputies and Ms. Mogherini’s deputy, and will gradually continue at the level of ministers.
The talks would be focused on the fields of mutual cooperation, including energy, transportation, trade, environment, human rights, and drug trafficking, the Iranian minister explained.
He went on to say that regional issues and threats, including extremism and terrorism as well as common concerns will also be discussed in the talks.
Zarif also touched upon his meeting with the EU official, noting that he had “very good” talks with Mogherini on “the implementation of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)” and “the future of Iran-EU ties”.
Mogherini arrived in Tehran on Tuesday to hold talks with top Iranian officials including President Hassan Rouhani and Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.
She is visiting Iran two weeks after Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14 concluded their intensive nuclear talks in Vienna.
The negotiations resulted in a comprehensive 159-page document known as JCPOA on Iran's peaceful nuclear program.
Mogherini coordinated the nuclear diplomacy with Iran on behalf of the sextet.
