The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday he spoke with Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian about bilateral issues, including the need to avoid nuclear escalation.
On X, Borrell also wrote that he discussed with Amirabdollahian the situation in the Gaza Strip. “It is critical that Iran uses regional influence to deescalate tension in the region,” the EU chief said.
He then reiterated the EU Council’s concerns that Tehran transfers IRI missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
In the Iranian capital, IRNA reported that Borrell and Amirabdollahian discussed the latest key issues in the region and the world as well as Iran’s ties with the EU.
“The two sides underlined the need for the continuation of talks and contacts between the Islamic Republic and the EU for the purpose of removing the anti-Iran sanctions,” the Iranian news agency said.
The top Iranian diplomat appreciated Borrell's view regarding the necessity of stopping the war and sending immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza.
He then mentioned the responsibility of the international community and the European Union with regard to the Palestinian issue.
Also, Amirabdollahian described the “repeated claims about Iran’s sending weapons for use against Ukraine as ‘a boring and baseless story’.”
Concerning the nuclear talks, the Iranian FM said Tehran is determined to continue constructive cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and in return, it seriously expects the western sides to fulfill their obligations regarding the nuclear negotiations aimed at lifting the sanctions.
Earlier, deputy chairman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Hossein Derakhshandeh said Iran is currently building the second and third units of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in cooperation with the Russians.
“Given the pace of the project, we expect that they will be commissioned on the scheduled dates,” he told Russia’s Sputnik news agency on the sidelines of ATOMEXPO-2024 international forum.
The deputy chairman said Iran has made significant achievements in the energy sector, one of which was the commissioning of the first power unit of Bushehr NPP in cooperation with Russian specialists.
He added that the Iranian delegation held meetings with representatives of various companies, including Russian companies, on the sidelines of the exhibition. “We hope that these meetings will lead to the conclusion of new agreements and contracts in the near future,” Derakhshandeh stressed.
On Tuesday, the Iranian Foreign Minister underscored his country’s principled policy of strengthening ties with neighboring countries.
During a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to the UAE, Reza Ameri, Amirabdollahian said Tehran is determined to give a boost to relations with Abu Dhabi.
He also voiced Tehran’s readiness to deepen political and economic relations with the UAE within the framework of mutual interests.
