Iran, Europe stress continuation of sanctions-removal talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in a telephone conversation on Monday reviewed the latest status of important regional and international issues and the relations between Iran and the European bloc.

The two sides emphasized the importance of continuing talks and meetings for lifting the sanctions.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has had a clear position on regional issues from the beginning and we have clearly said that resorting to war is not the solution," Amir-Abdollahian said.

The Iranian foreign minister called the repetition of claims about sending Iranian weapons to be used against Ukraine as boring and baseless claims and unfounded story-telling.

Referring to the continuous talks and contacts between Borrel's deputy Enrique Mora and Iran's deputy foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani, the top Iranian diplomat stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to continue constructive cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and, in return, it seriously expects the western parties to fully abide by their commitments towards nuclear negotiations and the lifting of anti-Iran sanctions.

Borrell, for his part, stated that the conclusion of the nuclear negotiations is still one of the priorities of the EU, and emphasized the necessity of continuing to follow up the nuclear talks and the talks on the removal of the sanctions.