Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on the European Union to play a more active and independent role in negotiations between Iran and the major powers on Tehran's nuclear program.
He made the remarks in a meeting with Cypriot Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandros N. Zenon in Tehran on Sunday, the Mehr news agency reported.
He referred to nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany) and said the EU can play an "effective" role in negotiations on a final deal to resolve the dispute over Tehran's nuclear work.
He touched on the friendly relations between the two countries and called for expansion of bilateral ties in economic, cultural and political spheres. The Cypriot official, for his part, expressed content over his visit to Iran and said he is hopeful that the negotiating parties to the nuclear issue will be able to reach a comprehensive agreement.
"Iran and the international community can prepare the ground for forging wide-ranging relations through building mutual trust," he added. Zenon emphasized that the EU is keen to maintain "continuous" and "stable" relations with Iran.
He expressed his country's readiness to expand bilateral economic and political relations.
