Update: EU's Mogherini urges commitment to implementation of nuclear deal

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said here Tuesday that the parties involved in the recent agreement over Iran's nuclear program should be committed to the steady implementation of the deal.

"We want this deal to be historical not only in its signing, but also in the implementation," Mogherini said in a joint press conference with Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif.

Mogherini hailed the dedication of all members of the P5+1 group -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany -- to the negotiations and dialogue, saying that diplomacy works if all parties show commitment.

Support from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were important factors in perseverance of Iranian nuclear team in negotiations and diplomacy, she said.

She expressed the hope that implementation of the nuclear deal would open new chapter in the economic, trade and political relations between Iran and the European Union and would help the expansion of Iran's relations with the European states. "The deal is not the end of a process (of cooperation), it is the beginning."

Also, Zarif said that Iran and the EU will start talks on cooperation in diverse areas, including the implementation of the nuclear agreement, energy, transportation, trade, environmental issues, human rights and campaign against drugs.

During the talks on Tuesday, "we also agreed to discuss regional issues, as these crisises are the threats not only for the region, but to the whole world, particularly to the EU members," Zarif said.

For her part, Mogherini said that the agreement also opened a crucial chapter for regional cooperation rather than confrontation. "I see a stronger will in Mr. Zarif and the Iranian leadership to open new chapter in the relations with the regional countries," she said.

The nuclear agreement is helpful for the restoration of peace and security in the region, and for building relations based on trust and confidence, she said.

Mogherini arrived in Iran's capital Tehran on Tuesday for talks on bilateral relations and the implementation of the recent nuclear deal.

The visit of Mogherini, which follows her visit to Saudi Arabia on Monday, comes after the nuclear agreement between Iran and the world major powers in the Austrian capital Vienna on July 14, which will relieve Iran's sanctions in exchange for stricter limits on its nuclear program to alleviate concerns.

During her stay in Iran, Mogherini will also meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

The visit to Iran "will provide an opportunity for exchanges on the implementation of the agreement," the European External Action Service announced in Brussels before her departure to Middle East. Endit