Iran’s Zarif, EU’s Mogherini Discuss N. Agreement, Security Crisis in Syria

(FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini exchanged views over implementation of the nuclear agreement between Tehran and the world powers, and called for the expansion of mutual cooperation to end crisis in Syria.

In a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday, the two sides reconfirmed their commitment to implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which will open the way to revitalized bilateral relations in different fields and mutual cooperation on regional and international issues.

They underscored that further works should be taken forward through a high-level dialogue encompassing bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The high level meeting will be led by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi and Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs of the European External Action Service Helga Schmid, sources said.

The first dialogue is foreseen to take place before the end of the year to be followed by a ministerial meeting at a later stage in 2016, the sources added.

In the meantime, Zarif and Mogherini underlined the need to bring the war in Syria, which has caused so much suffering, to an end.

They further expressed their readiness to cooperate within UN led efforts and exchanged views on how to contribute to that end.

In late July, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a meeting with Mogherini in Tehran said once the Vienna agreement is put into effect, the next step will be campaign against terrorism and bringing to a halt war and bloodshed in the world.

President Rouhani said Iran and the EU can increase their mutual cooperation in political, cultural, technological and scientific areas after the implementation of the Vienna agreement.

"The agreement that was struck will be very important and influential for the future of regional relations, Europe and the world," the Iranian president said during the meeting.

The Iranian president underlined that Iran-Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, France and Britain plus Germany) agreement will harm no country in the region or the world, and said, "Now an opportunity has been created to think less about the past and instead think of a future which can be based on mutual respect and colossal interests."

"One of the advantages of the Vienna agreement is cooperation to fulfill our shared obligation with regard to humanity and human ideals to fight terrorism and end war and shedding of the blood of innocent people," President Rouhani added.