Iran Open to Close Ties with EU
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian voiced Tehran’s readiness to establish strong relations and promote cooperation over issues of mutual interest with the European Union.
Amirabdollahian held a meeting with Luigi Di Maio, the European Union's special representative for Persian Gulf affairs, in Tehran on Sunday.
The Iranian foreign minister provided an overview of the recent developments in relations with neighboring countries, particularly in the Persian Gulf region.
He also discussed the current regional situation, highlighting the potential for enhancing cooperation among the eight Persian Gulf countries, the Foreign Ministry’s website reported.
Amirabdollahian then pointed to Tehran's proposal regarding the Regional Dialogue and Cooperation Forum, which is also supported by the regional countries, saying it indicates the regional countries' willingness to establish intra-regional cooperation in various dimensions, including in important environmental issues.
He also described plans to hold the first meeting of the forum on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York as a step towards greater convergence in the region.
Amirabdollahian further welcomed any initiative from the EU to strengthen cooperation between the bloc and the regional countries.
He also expressed Iran’s readiness to establish strong relations in the field of mutually agreed cooperation and areas of mutual interest with the European Union.
For his part, Di Maio highlighted Iran's significant position in the region and presented a report on his first visit to a number of countries in the Persian Gulf region in his new capacity.
He also emphasized the Islamic Republic’s influential role in the region.
Di Maio also stressed the importance of initiatives for regional dialogue and cooperation, and emphasized on the role of the UN secretary-general in holding a meeting of the foreign ministers of the eight countries in the Persian Gulf region.
He then viewed Iran and Saudi Arabia's normalization of relations as beneficial to the region.
During this meeting, the latest status of negotiations on the removal of anti-Iran sanctions, Iran's relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the necessity of Iran-Europe talks were discussed.
