Tehran is determined to reach a final agreement with the six major world powers, resolve the nuclear dispute, and allay any reasonable concerns about its nuclear energy program, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says, PressTV reported.
"The West must also show its seriousness by taking proper steps and adopting a constructive approach," Zarif said in a meeting with former Italian Premier and Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema in Tehran on Tuesday.
Zarif further dismissed as "wrong" the Western assumption that sanctions and pressure are the cause of Iran's continuing insistence on interaction with the West, adding that the Iranian nation is inclined toward "interaction with the world based on mutual respect."
The Iranian minister further criticized some incorrect stances in the West calling for the continuation of unconstructive pressure and sanctions as a result of one-sided interpretations of the recent nuclear deal inked between Tehran and the six powers in Geneva.
"The negotiations and the text of the Geneva deal between the two sides explicitly emphasize the importance of balance and simultaneity in reciprocal measures," Zarif pointed out.
Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France, Britain and the US -- plus Germany reached a nuclear deal in the Swiss city of Geneva on November 24.
The interim deal seeks to set the stage for the full resolution of the West's decade-old dispute with Iran over the country's nuclear energy program.
As part of the Geneva deal, it was agreed that the current sanctions on the Islamic Republic would be partially lifted and no more sanctions would be imposed on Iran for six months.
Zarif further expressed Iran's readiness and determination to improve ties with European countries, particularly Italy, saying, "Iran has a prominent political position and enjoys various economic capacities and capabilities and can be a secure partner for Europe," the foreign minister pointed out.
D'Alema, for his part, said European countries are deeply interested in the finalization of a nuclear agreement between Tehran and the six powers.
Iran has enormous capacities in political, economic and commercial fields and can serve as a perfect partner for European countries, he added.
The Italian official noted that sustainable peace, stability and security would not be established in the Middle East without Iran's effective role.
D'Alema's trip to Iran comes as Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino is scheduled to pay an official visit to Iran on December 21-22 to hold "institutional meetings" with senior Iranian officials.
This will be the first time that an Italian foreign minister travels to Tehran in nearly 10 years.