Iran’s new foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, calls for dialogue with the European Union to resolve bilateral issues, following a phone call with the bloc’s top diplomat.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the development of relations with the European Union in an environment based on mutual respect,” Araghchi says in a statement.
Relations between the EU and Iran have deteriorated in recent years.
The bloc accuses Tehran of failing to rein in its nuclear activity, providing support to Palestinian terror group Hamas, backing Russia’s war in Ukraine, and committing human rights violations.
The development of relations “requires dialogue to resolve issues between the two parties and the correction of the misguided policies of European countries,” Araghchi adds.
For his part, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says on social media platform X that he has discussed “prospects for renewed engagement on all files of mutual interest” with his Iranian counterpart.
The discussion included the “need for de-escalation and restraint” as well as “halting military cooperation” with Russia against Ukraine and nuclear non-proliferation.
Borrell says such “critical dialogue” is “essential to defuse regional tensions.”
Spoke to the new IR FM @aragchi about prospects for renewed engagement on all files of mutual interest, incl. the need for deescalation & restraint, halting military cooperation w/ RU against UA, & nuclear nonproliferation. Critical dialogue essential to defuse regional tensions.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 22, 2024
Araghchi, who took up his post on Wednesday, is known for his openness to the West.
He served as chief nuclear negotiator and played a key role in securing a 2015 agreement for Iran to curb its nuclear activity in return for easing sanctions.
That deal was torpedoed in 2018 by then-US president Donald Trump. Efforts to revive it since 2022 have so far failed.
Source » timesofisrael