Talks With EU Next Week

An Iranian delegation is slated to visit Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday for a second round of high-level talks with the European Union aimed at widening bilateral cooperation after last year's landmark nuclear deal eased sanctions against Iran.

The meeting will be chaired jointly by Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Helga Schmid, the EU deputy foreign policy chief, ISNA reported on Saturday.

It will cover a wide range of issues, including Iran-EU economic and political relations as well as cooperation in the anti-terror campaign to help effectively address regional conflicts.

The plan for high-level consultations was announced in a late-July 2015 press conference attended by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his EU counterpart, Federica Mogherini, who was on a visit to Tehran days after the conclusion of the historic nuclear accord involving Iran, six major powers and the European Union.

Iran and the EU have agreed to hold meetings in Tehran and Brussels twice a year.

In mid-April, Mogherini led a high-powered delegation to Iran, accompanied by seven commissioners representing the bloc's various sectors.

A joint statement was released at the end of Mogherini's trip, which committed the two sides to deepening cooperation by ensuring and supporting the full implementation of the nuclear accord.

The pact was clinched between Iran and major powers, and went into effect in mid-January to subject Tehran's nuclear program to time-bound curbs in return for relief from international sanctions.

They agreed in the statement to develop relations in the areas of mutual interest to enhance economic development, human rights, prosperity and wellbeing of the two nations and to help promote regional peace, security and stability, and find peaceful settlements to regional conflicts through dialogue.

The statement also said EU would open a full EU diplomatic mission in Tehran.

The bloc has tasked two diplomats in the Dutch Embassy with pursuing the establishment of the office.

In another statement on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the nuclear accord, the EU reiterated its interest in promoting bilateral cooperation.