EU ready to expand coop. with Iran on regional peace

TEHRAN, Feb. 09 (MNA) – Helga Schmid, deputy to the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, said Mon. Brussels is ready to expand cooperation with Tehran on promoting peace and stability in the region. Schmid, who is on a two-day visit to Tehran, made the remark on Monday in a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs Ebrahim Rahimpour. The meeting came after Iran and the EU held high-level talks focused on the implementation of the nuclear deal provisions that will extend to Tuesday to tackle regional and international developments of common concern. Rahimpour welcomed EU’s announcement on expanding cooperation with Iran, highlighting the Islamic Republic’s effective role in fighting terrorism and extremism in the region. He deemed the threat posed by ISIL and other extremist groups in the region ‘a serious and non-negligible peril’, saying “no country in the world will be safe from this threat. As of yet, even thousands of kilometers away, European countries are tackling with refugee crisis caused by these terrorist groups.” The Iranian diplomat called on European countries to help with the basic needs of Afghanistan for progress and development, adding “it is imperative for EU countries to pay special attention to this issue under current sensitive circumstances and provide the necessary conditions for the continuation and increase of financial aid to this country.” Schmid expressed her agreement with Rahimpour’s remarks on regional issues, particularly on combating terrorist groups, saying “cooperation between Iran and the EU will expedite and expand now that the nuclear deal has been implemented.” She also called on Iran to positively consider its participation in upcoming Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan in Brussels, given the current developments in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who is preparing a historic visit to Tehran in the near future, will host Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Brussels on February 15.