Iran Asks EU to Play More Active Role in N. Talks

(FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on the European Union to play a more active role in the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the US, China, France, Russia and Britain plus Germany).

"The EU can play a more active role in reaching a comprehensive nuclear agreement (between Iran and the G5+1)," Zarif said in a meeting with the new Greek ambassador to Tehran on Tuesday.

The Iranian foreign minister underlined the important role of the EU member-states in helping Iran and the G5+1 to strike a final deal.

Zarif, meantime, underlined the need for the further expansion of bilateral ties in all areas, including cultural and tourism fields, and said, "There are many potentials for improving the relations between the two countries …"

The Iranian foreign minister pointed to the recent terrorist attack in Paris, and said, "Europe should see the real grounds of violence and extremism as a serious challenge and pave the way for reaching a common understanding through cooperation and coordination with the important countries of the Middle East," he added.

The Greek ambassador, for his part, welcomed expansion of ties with Iran, and expressed the hope that the two countries would further broaden their mutual cooperation in future.

The 10th round of negotiations between Iran and the six world powers was held in Vienna from November 18 to 24, where the seven nations decided to extend the talks until July after they failed to strike an agreement.

The next round of the nuclear talks between the two sides will be held at the level of deputy foreign ministers in Geneva, Switzerland, on January 18.

Iran's nuclear chief announced on Friday that Tehran had done its utmost efforts to bring maximum transparency to its nuclear program and remove the alleged concerns of the Western states, stressing that the world powers had been left with no more excuse to avoid a final agreement with Iran.