News / Politics

EU foreign policy chief arrives in Iran's capital for talks

Saturday, 16 April 2016 6:16 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 16 April 2016 9:35 AM ]

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini speaks during a press conference in the Iranian capital Tehran on July 28, 2015. ©AFP

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has arrived in the Iranian capital at the head of a high-ranking political and economic delegation in a visit aimed at enhancing EU-Tehran relations.

Mogherini reached Tehran on Saturday alongside a group of senior European commissioners, including industry commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska, transport commissioner Violeta Bulc and energy commissioner Miguel Arias Canete.

This is the second time the EU foreign policy chief visits the Islamic Republic following the conclusion in Vienna of a nuclear agreement between the country and the P5+1 group of countries -- five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany – last July.

Mogherini chaired the P5+1 states during the nuclear negotiations with the Islamic Republic.

Upon her arrival, the top EU diplomat sat down for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. A joint press conference will follow.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) meets with the visiting EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Tehran, April 16, 2016. (Photo by IRNA)

During her one-day trip, Mogherini will also be meeting Iran’s Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, and Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Besides the expansion of Iran-EU relations, the talks are expected to focus on the opening of a permanent EU diplomatic office in Tehran as well as the deadly crisis in Syria.

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