EU, Iran underline commitment to diplomatic solution to nuclear issue

The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Brussels Thursday night.
During the meeting, Mogherini and Zarif discussed the Iranian nuclear talks and the importance of reaching an agreement before the agreed upon deadline.
"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", said Mogherini in a press statement.
The two sides also tackled a wide range of topics, from human rights to the major regional crises in the Middle East, such as in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the common threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
They also talked about regional dynamics. Mogherini emphasized that "the relationship between Iran and other countries of the region is crucial for regional stability." "The EU feels the current security situation in the region has created an urgent need for regional powers to consult and co-operate, defuse sectarian tensions and address the root causes of the rise of ISIL and the crises in Syria and Iraq" she noted.
The EU foreign policy chief 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