TEHRAN: EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who coordinates nuclear talks between Iran and world powers, arrived in Tehran yesterday, media reported.
Her visit comes amid a recent thaw in Iran’s strained relations with the West following last year’s election of moderate Iranian President Hassan Rowhani and over its controversial nuclear programme.
Rowhani vowed to “constructively engage” with the West, and a historic interim nuclear deal struck in November came into force in January.
The interim deal requires that the Islamic republic curb its nuclear activities for six months in exchange for some sanctions relief.
Negotiators are aiming to reach a comprehensive agreement by July 20, when the interim accord is due to expire.
“Ashton and her political and economic delegation arrived in Tehran and were officially welcomed by Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi,” official IRNA news agency said.
Araqchi is Tehran’s chief nuclear negotiator in the talks with world powers.
Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takhte Ravanchi said that bilateral ties between Iran and European Union as well as nuclear issue were on Ashton’s agenda.
“Ms Ashton travels to Iran as the EU foreign policy chief, and discussing bilateral ties between Iran and European Union is on her agenda... naturally the nuclear issue will be raised too,” he said. Ashton’s visit is the first to Iran by an EU policy chief since 2008. AFP
