The meeting with Ashton, who coordinates diplomacy with Iran on behalf of six world powers, comes as part of negotiations over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear energy program.
“Ashton begins bilateral meeting with Iran FM Zarif as E3/EU+3 talks with Iran enter 4th day,” Michael Mann wrote on his twitter page.
Iran and the Group 5+1 (alternatively known as the P5+1 or E3+3) have started the new round of high-profile negotiations in the Austrian capital since June 16.
The five-day negotiations are aimed at drafting a comprehensive deal to resolve the decade-long standoff over Tehran's peaceful nuclear energy program.
Iran and the six world powers inked an interim deal on Tehran’s nuclear program in Geneva last November, which came into force on January 20. The interim deal (the Joint Plan of Action) stipulates that over the course of six months (July 20), the parties will draw up a comprehensive nuclear deal which will lead to a lifting of the whole sanctions on the Islamic Republic.