MOSCOW, January 16 (Sputnik) — EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during a meeting in Brussels on Thursday stressed the need to reach a comprehensive agreement on the peaceful nature of the Tehran's nuclear program in time, the press statement published on the European External Action Service (EEAS) website said.
"We affirmed our strong commitment to a diplomatic solution which would fully address international concerns about the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear issue. Negotiations have to be brought to a conclusion in line with the agreed time", Mogherini was quoted in the statement as saying.
"She [Mogherini] encouraged Iran to use its considerable influence to help create a more inclusive and stable Iraq, which is in both the EU's and Iran's interests, but also to contribute to a political solution to the Syrian crisis by supporting United Nations Special Envoy for the Syria crisis Staffan de Mistura," the statement read.
The international community has long expressed concern over Iran's nuclear program, accusing Tehran of developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear program. Tehran has repeatedly dismissed the accusations.
After years of talks, Iran and the P5+1 group of international mediators, including Russia, the United States, Britain, France, China and Germany, have agreed to prepare a document ensuring the peaceful nature of Tehran's nuclear program. However, the sides have only managed to reach an interim accord on the issue.
The deadline for a long-term comprehensive agreement was extended until July 1, 2015, with the next round of talks planned to be conducted in Geneva on January 18.
