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Iran welcomes European Parliament's plan for increased diplomatic relations

Xinhua, October 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday welcomed the European Parliament's plan for increased diplomatic relations with the Islamic republic as a part of an ongoing strategy following Iran's nuclear agreement in 2015.

The move "shows the EU's positive resolve to expand and deepen bilateral ties with Iran in all dimensions," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by semi-official Fars news agency on Tuesday.

During a debate on the opening day of the October plenary, Members of European Parliament (MEPs) celebrated the landmark deal that Tehran agreed to cut its nuclear enrichment program and its enriched uranium stockpile in exchange for international sanctions relief, while also stressing the need for increased dialogue with Iran.

"The Iran Nuclear Agreement was a big achievement for European and international diplomacy. It is an important signal that nuclear non-proliferation is possible in our world," declared Socialist MEP Richard Howitt, the rapporteur on a draft resolution calling for increased EU-Iran diplomacy.

The draft resolution "EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement" puts forth recommendations for increased political dialogue, trade and economic cooperation, regional security cooperation in the Middle East, and negotiations on social issues dear to European leaders, such as human rights.

On Tuesday, Qasemi expressed optimism that MEPs' move "lays emphasis on developing relations in all political, economic, energy, scientific, training, research and environmental fields."

In the meantime, he mentioned some western states' pressure on Iran to discuss its defense program, saying that "Iran's missile tests are carried out within the framework of the country's defense policies and Iran's defense capabilities are not negotiable and would never be compromised."

He also voiced Tehran's opposition to what he termed as "political and double-standard attitudes towards the human rights issues."

"Iran is ready to explain about Islam's views on human rights under a peaceful and non-hostile atmosphere and through talks and exchanging views, and it attempts to interact with others to bring the two sides' views closer to each other," he added.

The draft resolution will be voted by MEPs on Tuesday. Endit