Tehran, Riga Ties to Expand: Iran’s FM


Tehran, Riga Ties to Expand: Iran’s FM

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Wednesday said relations between Iran and Latvia is set to develop.

Speaking in a joint press conference with his Latvian counterpart in Tehran, Zarif said there is a possibility for broadening bilateral relations between Tehran and Riga in cultural, economic and political fields.

He added that with the upcoming talks in Vienna (between Iran and the sextet of powers over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program) reaching a successful conclusion, Tehran-Riga ties will be enhanced.

“Latvia will assume the rotating presidency of the European Union in 2015, which will pave the way for further expansion of relations (between Tehran and Riga),” Zarif stated.

The top Iranian diplomat further said that in his Wednesday talks with his Latvian counterpart, they conferred on mutual cooperation as well as regional issues.

Latvia’s Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics told the press conference that his country is keen to consult with Iran on security issues.

Rinkevich noted that relations between Iran and the EU were among the topics he discussed with Zarif.

Latvia will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2015.

The Latvian foreign minister further hoped nuclear negotiations between Iran and the world powers will be successful.

Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) in November last year signed an interim deal, known as Geneva Agreement, on Tehran’s nuclear case.

Based on the interim deal (the Joint Plan of Action), the world powers agreed to suspend some non-essential sanctions and to impose no new nuclear-related bans in return for Tehran's decision to suspend its 20% enrichment for a period of six months.

The breakthrough deal, which has come into effect since January 20, stipulates that over the course of six months, Iran and the six countries will draw up a comprehensive nuclear deal which will lead to a lifting of the whole sanctions on Iran.

The two sides wrapped up their latest round of high-level nuclear talks in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on April 9.

There will be a fresh round of high-level talks between Iran and the sextet beginning on May 13 in Vienna.

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