Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in the Austrian capital Vienna on Monday to attend the meeting of the 17-member International Syria Support Group (ISSG). Following the meeting and holding talks with a number of his counterparts on the sidelines, Zarif left for Tehran Tuesday night.
On Monday upon arrival in Vienna, the Iranian top diplomat met with EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini as well as UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, where they held discussions on regional and international developments and the implementation of Iran’s nuclear deal.
Zarif also met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Tuesday morning before the ISSG meeting, where the two sides discussed the latest developments regarding the restoration of a ceasefire across Syria and finding a way back to a political process in regard to the war-torn country.
Later on Tuesday, Zarif held separate meetings with his Syrian, British and Omani counterparts.
In his meeting with Britain’s Secretary of State Philip Hammond, the two sides stressed the expansion of bilateral ties and conferred on ways for a more effective implementation of Iran’s nuclear deal, particularly in the area of banking relations.
Zarif also held talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday evening and exchanged views on ways to remove obstacles blocking the implementation of JCPOA. The meeting took place at Palais Coburg in Vienna, with Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Ministry's Chief of Staff for the Implementation of the JCPOA, accompanying Zarif.
John Kerry, in a recent meeting with officials of European banks, had reassured them about conducing banking and financial transactions with Iranian banks.
Zarif also held talks with Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah on the sidelines of the Syrian peace talks on Tuesday. During the meeting, the two sides conferred on regional developments as well as bilateral relations.
Abbas Araghchi also held a meeting with Helga Schmid, aide to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, on Tuesday, and highlighted the facilitation of implementing the nuclear deal.
Schmid, for her part, presented a report on efforts made by the European Union in facilitating and expanding economic relations with Iran, particularly in the area of banking ties, and underscored the firm resolution of EU countries for developing trade cooperation with Iran and removing the existing obstacles.
MS
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