Regional situation discussed as Dar phones Araghchi

TEHRAN: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday called Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and discussed regional situation, The Tehran Times reported, on a day which saw Pakistan’s top diplomat meeting with his US counterpart.

Besides regional situation, it was reported that the two foreign ministers from Pakistan and Iran also focused on issues of mutual interests.

Read more: Iranian President to visit Pakistan amid nuclear talks tensions with Europe

‘UNSHAKABLE RIGHT’

The development comes as a time when the US is pressing Iran hard to abandon nuclear enrichment — a demand that Iran considers unacceptable and a right as a sovereign state.

On Thursday, Araghchi reaffirmed Iran’s right to enrich uranium, saying it was “unshakable”, on the eve of key talks with European powers threatening to reimpose sanctions.

“Especially after the recent war, it is important for them to understand that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s position remains unshakable, and that our uranium enrichment will continue. We will not give up this right of the Iranian people,” Araghchi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

MEETING IN WASHINGTON

Meanwhile, Dar and US State Secretary Marco Rubio discussed a wide range of issues, including regional peace and counterterrorism efforts, as they held in meeting Washington.

Read more: Dar, Rubio discuss regional peace, counterterrorism efforts

It was first face-to-face meeting between the two foreign ministers, although they have had telephonic conversations, especially during the Pakistan-India war, on several occasions.

FRANK AND DETAILED

On the other hand, AFP quoted a senior Iranian diplomat as saying that he held “frank and detailed” nuclear talks with officials from Germany, France and Britain, addressing last month’s war with Israel and possible snapback sanctions.

Read more: ‘Hamas wants to die, recognition of Palestine meaningless’

Earlier in the day, Iran said its meeting with Germany, Britain and France would be an opportunity for them to “correct” their stance on Tehran’s nuclear programme, ahead of talks with the three European powers.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei called Friday’s meeting in Istanbul a “test of realism for the Europeans and a valuable opportunity to correct their views on Iran’s nuclear issue,” in remarks to the official IRNA news agency.