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Top EU diplomat Federica Mogherini in Iran for key talks EU 'turns page' in relations with Iran
(about 5 hours later)
The European Union foreign policy chief has held the highest-level talks between the EU and Iran in more than a decade. The European Union and Iran have "turned a new page" in their diplomatic relations, the EU's foreign policy chief said on a visit to Tehran.
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 said they had agreed to work on closer ties in a number of areas, including the economy, energy, education, migration and transport.
Her visit also marks the start of a new phase in relations. The visit follows last year's historic nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic.
Trade, energy and the environment are areas both sides are keen to explore. She said the results of their talks would "make a real difference" to the lives of Iranians and Europeans.
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. Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has been holding talks with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the presidential palace in Ankara.
At the same time Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has held talks with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the presidential palace in Ankara. They agreed to increase banking and economic co-operation and boost trade to $30bn (£21bn) within two years.
They are reported to have discussed the Syrian conflict and strengthening trade links which they hope will rise to $30bn within two years. Mr Erdogan said they also agreed to "reduce our differences" over Syria and other issues, to "work together to overcome the problems of terrorism and sectarianism and the related humanitarian crises that are shaking our region".
Nuclear deal Ms Mogherini said the issue of Syria and stability in the Middle East region had been discussed in her talks with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Western sanctions linked to human rights and terrorism are still in place in Iran. Also, the question of human rights in Iran, of which she said "it is not a secret we have some concerns in this respect".
Ms Mogherini - on a one-day visit to Iran - told a news conference that the EU's policy on human rights worked on the principle of pursuing engagement and dialogue with Iran. Mr Zarif, for his part, welcomed the EU's support for Iran's bid to join the World Trade Organization, but called on the US to fulfil their commitments in relation to the nuclear deal and remove obstacles to the banking sector.
Iran's main objective from the nuclear talks was to secure access to the global financial markets, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told the joint news conference. Major European banks and businesses continue to be wary of investing in Iran, where US sanctions are still in place linked to alleged terrorism and human rights questions.
Mr Zarif called on the Americans to fulfil their commitments in relation to the nuclear deal and remove obstacles to the banking sector. "Iran and the EU will put pressure on the United States to facilitate the co-operation of non-American banks with Iran," Mr Zarif said. "It's essential that the other side, especially the United States, fulfil its commitments not on paper but in practice and removes the obstacles especially in banking sector."
Ms Mogherini is discussing 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 also said they wanted to strengthen this relationship - especially because the kind of dialogue is still too politically sensitive for Iran to have with the United States, reports the BBC's Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet, who is travelling with the EU delegation.
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.