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EU's Catherine Ashton to begin landmark Iran talks EU's Catherine Ashton begins landmark talks in Iran
(about 5 hours later)
The EU's head of foreign policy, Catherine Ashton, is due to begin talks with Iranian leaders in Tehran. The EU's head of foreign policy, Catherine Ashton, has begun talks with Iranian leaders in Tehran.
It is her first visit to Iran and comes amid a thaw in relations with the West following last year's election of moderate President Hassan Rouhani. It is her first visit to Iran and comes amid a thaw in relations with the West following last year's election of moderate Hassan Rouhani as president.
On Sunday she is due to meet President Rouhani, speaker Ali Larijani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. She met Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for more than an hour.
In November, she helped broker a deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme in return for limited sanctions relief. In November, Baroness Ashton helped broker a deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme in return for limited sanctions relief.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takhte Ravanchi said on Saturday that "the nuclear issue" would be on the agenda for the three-day visit. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Majid Takhte Ravanchi, said on Saturday the nuclear issue would be on the agenda for the three-day visit.
"Ms Ashton travels to Iran as the EU foreign policy chief, and discussing bilateral ties between Iran and European Union is on her agenda... naturally the nuclear issue will be raised too," he said."Ms Ashton travels to Iran as the EU foreign policy chief, and discussing bilateral ties between Iran and European Union is on her agenda... naturally the nuclear issue will be raised too," he said.
Analysts say the war in Syria is also expected to be discussed, as Iran is a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad.Analysts say the war in Syria is also expected to be discussed, as Iran is a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad.
Baroness Ashton's visit is the first to Iran by an EU policy chief since 2008.Baroness Ashton's visit is the first to Iran by an EU policy chief since 2008.
Iranian media said the trip would also take her to the historical city of Isfahan on Monday.Iranian media said the trip would also take her to the historical city of Isfahan on Monday.
The BBC's Lyse Doucet, who is in Tehran, says the visit is primarily aimed at exploring the potential for a new relationship between Iran and Europe.The BBC's Lyse Doucet, who is in Tehran, says the visit is primarily aimed at exploring the potential for a new relationship between Iran and Europe.
But it is hoped Baroness Ashton can send a message to Iran's leaders that there is much to gain if they continue to build a new relationship with the international community, she adds.But it is hoped Baroness Ashton can send a message to Iran's leaders that there is much to gain if they continue to build a new relationship with the international community, she adds.
Last year's interim deal with the so-called P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - saw Iran curb uranium enrichment in return for partial sanctions relief.Last year's interim deal with the so-called P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - saw Iran curb uranium enrichment in return for partial sanctions relief.
World powers want Iran to scale back its nuclear activities permanently to ensure that it cannot assemble a nuclear weapon.World powers want Iran to scale back its nuclear activities permanently to ensure that it cannot assemble a nuclear weapon.