High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Josep Borrell commented on nuclear talks, expressing his hope that Western and Iranian diplomats would return to the negotiation table soon.
Underlining that Iran was not ready to return to nuclear talks with Western powers to discuss its nuclear program and US sanctions last week, Borrell stated that the discussion could be undertaken with the EU within the scope of Brussels documents that would be introduced later.
Quoting an Iranian lawmaker who met with Iran’s Foreign Minister on Sunday, an Iranian news agency reported that the Brussels meeting could be held on Thursday. Yet, the senior EU diplomat refrained from confirming the report.
Arriving in Luxembourg on Monday for EU’s foreign ministers’ gathering, Borrell said, “No confirmation yet, but things are getting better and I am hopeful we will have preparatory meetings in Brussels in the days to come.”
“You never know, I am more optimistic today than yesterday,” the EU foreign policy chief added.
Last week, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian indicated, following a phone talk with his Chinese counterpart, that talks between Iran and the EU “have started in a positive and constructive direction,” and would continue in Brussels. Furthermore, he called US to lift “unilateral and illegal” sanctions on Iran.
Last Thursday, Enrique Mora, the EU’s deputy foreign policy chief, met in Tehran with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani.
In a statement issued by Iran’s Foreign Ministry following the meeting between Mora and Kani, it was underlined that both sides discussed “bilateral, regional and international issues,” including “bilateral ties, Afghanistan, and negotiations on lifting sanctions against Iran.”
