Iran is completely open to fostering links with the European Union, as long as they are meant to deliver mutual benefits, a top parliamentary official said.
"The doctrine of the Islamic Republic of Iran sets no limit to increasing constructive relations and interaction with the EU," chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission told ICANA on Monday.
"European countries should not approach Iran merely as a market for their manufactured goods to help weather the recession. The cooperation between Iran and Europe will last as long as it benefits Tehran as well," Alaeddin Boroujerdi added.
Boroujerdi's statements came after EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, reiterated the bloc's interest in expanding relations with Iran, which has recently received relief from international economic sanctions, including EU's.
In return, Tehran put in place temporary curbs on its nuclear program as agreed under a breakthrough nuclear agreement reached in July and enforced last month.
"I just received Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Brussels a few days ago, to discuss both regional and bilateral issues, and I am planning to travel to Tehran soon, together with a number of other European commissioners," Mogherini said in an interview with Trend News Agency on Saturday.
"There is common willingness to have a regular political dialogue and restore close economic ties."
According to Mogherini, trade, energy, environment and migrant crisis are some of the issues where the EU would like to deepen its cooperation with Iran.
"I am sure that such renewed engagement will not only benefit the citizens of Iran and of our European Union; the positive spillovers can reach the entire region—starting from Iran's neighbors, of course," she added.
***Technology Transfer Crucial
Boroujerdi said European businesses seeking to build partnership with Iranian counterparts are expected to share their technology.
"What's crucial is that the transfer of technology and development of domestic industry be given top priority in Iran-EU ties," he said.
This is what has been emphasized on many occasions by President Hassan Rouhani who hopes to capitalize on the economic opening that has emerged after the lifting of sanctions to revive the ailing economy.
"The EU suffered the greatest of losses due to the western sanctions and it is time they adopted a different stance in their relations with Iran," he said.
Days after the deal was announced, Zarif and the visiting EU foreign policy chief agreed on a plan to hold high-level bilateral talks aimed at promoting cooperation in a wide range of domains.
The talks were launched early this month in Tehran in a meeting between the bloc's political director, Helga Schmid, and Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi.
