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| Top EU diplomat Federica Mogherini in Iran for key talks | Top EU diplomat Federica Mogherini in Iran for key talks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The European Union foreign policy chief has arrived in Tehran for the highest-level talks between the EU and Iran in more than a decade. | The European Union foreign policy chief has arrived in Tehran for the highest-level talks between the EU and Iran in more than a decade. |
| Federica Mogherini is leading a delegation of seven EU commissioners for the discussions, which follow on from last year's historic nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic. | Federica Mogherini is leading a delegation of seven EU commissioners for the discussions, which follow on from last year's historic nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic. |
| Her visit also marks the start of a new phase in relations. | Her visit also marks the start of a new phase in relations. |
| Trade, energy and the environment are areas both sides are keen to explore. | Trade, energy and the environment are areas both sides are keen to explore. |
| The BBC's Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet, who is travelling with the EU delegation, says that the signing of the nuclear deal paved the way for the lifting of financial sanctions against Iran. | The BBC's Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet, who is travelling with the EU delegation, says that the signing of the nuclear deal paved the way for the lifting of financial sanctions against Iran. |
| Sanctions linked to human rights and terrorism are still in place. | Sanctions linked to human rights and terrorism are still in place. |
| Ms Mogherini told a news conference that the EU's policy on human rights worked on the principle of pursuing engagement and dialogue with Iran. | |
| Ms Mogherini will discuss the EU's remaining sanctions with the Iranian leadership as well as what is said to be one of her major concerns - bringing an end to Syria's punishing war which would also help resolve Europe's migration crisis. | |
| Engaging directly with Iran - a key player in Syria - is for Europe one of the main benefits of the nuclear deal. | Engaging directly with Iran - a key player in Syria - is for Europe one of the main benefits of the nuclear deal. |
| Iranian officials say they also want to strengthen this relationship - especially because the kind of dialogue taking place in Tehran on Saturday is still too politically sensitive for Iran to have with the United States, our correspondent says. | Iranian officials say they also want to strengthen this relationship - especially because the kind of dialogue taking place in Tehran on Saturday is still too politically sensitive for Iran to have with the United States, our correspondent says. |
| Ms Mogherini's one-day trip comes after Iran complained about banking sanctions, with officials accusing the West - especially the US - of creating obstacles to its access to worldwide financial markets. | Ms Mogherini's one-day trip comes after Iran complained about banking sanctions, with officials accusing the West - especially the US - of creating obstacles to its access to worldwide financial markets. |
| Six world powers led by the US agreed in July last year to lift sanctions that had locked down much of the Iran's economy for years in exchange for limits on Tehran's nuclear programme. | Six world powers led by the US agreed in July last year to lift sanctions that had locked down much of the Iran's economy for years in exchange for limits on Tehran's nuclear programme. |
| The move allowed Iran to resume a higher level of oil exports when the deal was implemented in January, as well as opening up more trade opportunities. | The move allowed Iran to resume a higher level of oil exports when the deal was implemented in January, as well as opening up more trade opportunities. |