Iranian FM Meets EU Parliament Officials, Belgian Counterpart

(FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held separate meetings with President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs Elmar Brok and Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders in Brussels to discuss the Tehran-EU relations and the latest regional and international developments.

During their meeting, Zarif and Reynders conferred on bilateral relations as well as regional and international problems, and underlined the necessity for the strengthening of the good and age-old ties and cooperation between the two countries.

They also exchanged views on the situation of Iraq, Syria and Ukraine and Iran's nuclear talks with the world powers.

Also, in a meeting between Zarif and Schulz, the two officials underlined the important role of parliamentary cooperation in consolidating bilateral relations, and discussed the impacts and dimensions of terrorism and extremism in the region.

The Iranian foreign minister and the chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs also conferred on the relations between Tehran and the EU as well as the human rights issues, and explored avenues for strengthening the parliamentary ties between the two sides.

Also, Zarif in a meeting with President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy in Brussels on Monday conferred on the nuclear talks between Tehran and the world powers and the latest developments in the region.

"Today we had discussions with EU and Belgian officials. Our first meeting was a general discussion on issues of mutual interest related to Iran and the EU, the nuclear issue and extremism and terrorism in the region," Zarif told reporters after the meeting yesterday.

The Iranian top diplomat also said that he had discussed the situation in Europe, the concerns of the European states and the possibility of cooperation between the two sides on these issues during the meetings.

Zarif and his accompanying delegation arrived in the Belgian capital city, Brussels, early Monday morning.

Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi and Seyed Abbas Araqchi, the deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, who are both high ranking members of the Iranian nuclear negotiation team are accompanying Zarif in this trip.

Zarif held a meeting with EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton on Monday morning and then had a working lunch with her to discuss the latest developments related to the nuclear talks between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany).

Iran and the six world powers have been in talks over a final and permanent solution to their nuclear standoff ever since they signed an interim deal in Geneva in November. On July 20, the deadline for reaching a final agreement on Iran's future nuclear activities was postponed by four months—until November 24—to give more time for diplomatic efforts.

Zarif and Ashton in a joint statement after over two weeks of talks in July stressed the need for more efforts and time to reach an agreement with the world powers over Tehran's nuclear program.

The two officials who presided the negotiating sides, emphasized at the end of Iran-G5+1 negotiations that they have held different sessions in different forms and in a constructive atmosphere to reach a final comprehensive agreement.

Due to certain differences over some fundamental issues the two sides agreed to extend the Joint Plan of Action by November 24, they added.