Normalization of Iran-EU ties will benefit entire world: Finnish FM

 

Tuomioja made the remarks during a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran on a Sunday. 

 

The Finnish foreign minister said his visit to Iran is a good beginning for the improvement of ties, adding that he discussed issues of interest, like bilateral relations, Iran’s nuclear program, violence, radicalism, and the instability in Iraq during his talks with Zarif.

 

He also noted that the initiative to normalize Iran-EU relations will lead to important decisions.

 

Tuomioja described Iran-Finland relations as deep-rooted “because of the numerous common interests they share” and expressed hope that the atmosphere would become ripe for the expansion of relations.

 

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Finnish foreign minister expressed hope that all the obstacles to a comprehensive nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1 group would be removed.

 

"The fact that progress has been made in the nuclear issue is very promising, and we [Finland] certainly expect that the remaining issues will be resolved in the remaining months," Tuomioja stated.

 

He also said he believes the ISIL terrorist group, which is committing heinous crimes in Iraq and Syria, is a serious threat to the security of all regional countries. Tuomioja expressed regret over the massacres being conducted by ISIL and said all countries, including Iran, need to join hands to deal with the terrorist group. 

 

Tuomioja added that Finland supports the Iraqi government’s call to fight the terrorist group. He went on to say that every political and economic measure that can help the efforts to restore peace and stability in Iraq should be taken. 

 

Tuomioja arrived in Tehran late on Saturday in order to meet senior Iranian officials for discussions on a range of issues of mutual interest. He is the tenth European foreign minister to travel to Tehran since the Rouhani administration took office last year. The foreign ministers of Denmark and Slovakia are also scheduled to visit Tehran next week, at the invitation of their Iranian counterpart.

 

 

The Iranian foreign minister said the new sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran over the country’s peaceful nuclear energy program violate the agreement between the Islamic Republic and the 5+1 group.

 

Imposing new penalties “is a dangerous approach, and an unconstructive method. Certainly, it is at least against the spirit of the Geneva agreement, and in some instances, it could violate the commitments made by the United States in the Geneva accord,” Zarif said.

 

He added that Tehran believes that the imposition of such sanctions will make it more difficult for the parties involved in the talks to reach a final comprehensive deal.

 

In response to a question by a Finnish journalist, who asked what sort of agreement would satisfy Iran, Zarif said Iran is committed to the provisions of the Geneva Joint Plan of Action and wants a deal that guarantees that Iran’s nuclear program will remain peaceful but also ensures that all the sanctions and restrictions imposed on the country will be lifted.

 

 

Zarif also stated that based on the preliminary nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1 group, Iran has the right to respond if new sanctions are imposed on the country.

 

“As stipulated in the Geneva agreement, we have the ability to take counter-measures that would not please the other party (the United States). So far, we have shown self-restraint in this regard. However, if we realize that the other party is taking advantage of our self-restraint, there are ample grounds for action, on which we will decide at the proper time,” he added.

 

On Friday, the White House imposed new sanctions on a group of Iranian individuals and firms. The move was condemned by senior Iranian officials, including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and was called a blatant violation of the previously agreed Joint Plan of Action, signed by Iran and the 5+1 group in Geneva.

 

Iran and the 5+1 group signed a historic interim deal in the Swiss city of Geneva in November 2013. The agreement entered into force on January 20 and expired six months later. In July, Iran and the six countries agreed to extend their negotiations to reach a final accord until November 24.

 

Earlier on Saturday, Rouhani said the new U.S. sanctions “would not undermine the foundations of the upcoming talks with the 5+1 group,” but noted that such measures raise doubts about the United States’ goodwill and will harm the efforts to build confidence.

 

On the same day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said the United States’ anti-Iran move ran counter to the Geneva accord and the peaceful trend of the talks.

 

Earlier on Saturday, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the next round of talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China) and Germany will be held in New York in September.

 

Zarif thanked the Finnish foreign minister for his visit to Tehran and noted that the two countries have had political relations for over a century. 

 

 

Elsewhere in his remarks, Zarif said he is ready to invite Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal Al Saud to Tehran.

 

“I have always been ready to meet Saudi Arabia's foreign minister. The first opportunity for talks between me and his Excellency Mr. Saud al-Faisal will be on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly [in September]. I hope we can use this opportunity this year. Afterward, I would also be ready both to travel to Saudi Arabia and to invite him to Iran.

 

“I am also prepared to cooperate with him to boost our relations and improve the current situation in the region,” Zarif stated.

 

He added that Tehran and Riyadh have common interests and face common challenges, including the extremism and sectarianism plaguing the region.

 

Zarif also commented on the recent meeting between Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and the Saudi foreign minister in the city of Jeddah, calling the talks “positive”.

 

It was the first high-level bilateral meeting between the two countries since Iranian President Hassan Rouhani took office last year. In March, Rouhani emphasized that Tehran was determined to improve ties with neighboring Muslim countries, saying cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia is vital for regional security. 

 

Tehran and Riyadh have remained divided on a number of key regional issues, including the Bahraini uprising and the crisis in Syria.

 

In response to a question by the Tehran Times on Saturday, President Rouhani said the differences between Tehran and Riyadh are not related to their ties, but rather, “regional issues ranging from North Africa to the Middle East divide the two countries.”

 

He also said that the key to resolving the differences is “negotiation and not detachment.”

 

 

In addition to its efforts to boost ties with regional countries and European states, the Islamic Republic has also been seeking to expand its ties with Latin American countries in recent years. 

 

The strong and rapidly expanding ties between Iran and Latin American countries have raised eyebrows in the U.S. and other Western countries since Tehran and certain Latin American nations forged an alliance against the imperialist and colonialist powers and began striving hard to reinvigorate their relations with other independent countries that pursue a line of policy independent from the U.S.

 

Earlier on Saturday evening, Zarif met Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Samuel Santos Lopez in Tehran, and both of them expressed enthusiasm about the expansion of bilateral relations. They also exchanged views on the most important developments in the international and regional arenas. 

 

During the meeting, Zarif underlined Iran's intention to expand relations with Latin American countries, especially Nicaragua, saying Iran and Nicaragua have a great potential for cooperation in various areas, such as agriculture and construction.

 

The Nicaraguan foreign minister said the two friendly nations should increase their cooperation. He added that Iranian companies can participate in the implementation of various projects in Nicaragua.