Iran says new page opens in Iran-EU relations

Tehran, Iran, July 28

By Temkin Jafarov, Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that a new page has opened in Iran-European Union relations, Trend Agency's correspondents reported.

During a joint press conference of the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Zarif on July 28 in Tehran, Iranian FM said that he has discussed the future of Iran-EU relations with Mogherini.

"Mutual measures should be taken by Iran and the EU in next 80 days," Zarif said, adding that these measures would be discussed at the deputy FM level, and will focus on the implementation of nuclear agreement, regional security, energy, human rights, extremism, drug traffic, sectarianism, etc.

Mogherini in turn called the comprehensive nuclear deal achieved by Iran and P5+1 "historic" and said that this deal is open to new chapters.

She went on to say that 60 percent of Iran's inflation has been due to imposed sanctions. The investment by international companies to be facilitated, a new chapter in Iran-EU relations to be opened due to nuclear agreement, she said.

The EU foreign policy chief also hailed the unanimous UN Security Council's voting on the comprehensive nuclear deal. She said that the International Atomic Energy Agency will keep having a key role in the implementation of the deal.

"Lifting of the sanctions will have great effect, business wise," she said.

Mogherini also said that Iran and the EU share the Middle East concerns and a new chapter will be opened in dealing with the regional affairs.

Further, answering a question about the importance of the achieved deal on the region, Mogherini said that she saw the needed will from Mohammad Javad Zarif and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for opening new relations.

"This deal will help improve regional affairs in future," she said. "I have the commitment to tell the region and the world that the deal can make the world a more secure place. The region needs future which is based on dialogue and unity rather than conflict,' she added.

Mogherini added that Iran and EU are close geographically, historically, culturally.

Mogherini's visit to Tehran comes following the Iran-P5+1 (the US, UK, France, Russia,China, and Germany ) historic deal on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program on July 14.

Mogherini follows on from German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel's visit to Iran last week, the first senior figure from the EU to visit the country since the deal.

Gabriel arrived in Tehran on July 19 to discuss Iran-Germany economic ties in post-sanctions period. He met senior Iranian officials including President Rouhani as well as Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian during his three-day visit.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also will pay an official visit to Tehran on July 29. Other high-ranking European officials are due to travel to Tehran soon as well.