Dialogue Between Iranian and European Officials on 'Creating Stability in the Region'

The Deputy Representative of the European Union in Foreign Policy and the Prime Minister of Greece have discussed the regional situation and efforts to create stability during separate meetings with senior Iranian officials. On Monday, February 8, Alexi Tsipras, the Prime Minister of Greece, visited Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran. Upon his arrival in Tehran, Tsipras tweeted that Iran is a 'key player in creating stability and peace in the Middle East' and 'a major economic partner.' According to Press TV, Tsipras stated in his meeting with the Iranian president that 'cooperation and coordination among all countries to combat terrorism is essential, and Greece stands by Tehran given Iran's prominent role in regional stability.' Greece has been a country where hundreds of thousands of refugees, particularly from Syria, have arrived in the past year, seeking to move to Northern and Western Europe. Many refugees have been housed on its islands, and Athens has repeatedly warned about the worsening conditions it faces. This issue was also raised in the discussions between Tsipras and Rouhani, with the Greek Prime Minister emphasizing that 'restoring stability and security to the region can reduce the wave of refugees and displaced persons.' Iran, alongside Russia, is considered one of the main allies of Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria. Currently, Assad's allied forces, supported by Russian airstrikes, are conducting new attacks around Aleppo against rebels. These attacks have left tens of thousands of new refugees, and Turkey fears that up to 600,000 more displaced persons may surge toward its borders. With the escalation of recent conflicts, the Geneva peace talks aimed at ending the Syrian crisis have also been postponed. Helga Schmidt, the Deputy High Representative of the European Union in Foreign Policy, is another European official who has met with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister to discuss regional 'stability.' According to IRNA, Ms. Schmidt spoke about the EU's readiness to expand cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran towards peace and stability in the region during her meeting with Ibrahim Rahimpour. The official news agency of the Islamic Republic reported that Schmidt and Rahimpour specifically discussed the situation in Afghanistan during this meeting. Other issues raised in recent meetings of European officials in Iran included the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and economic cooperation. Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Deputy for Europe and America at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated after his meeting with Helga Schmidt that the recent meeting was an opportunity to review actions taken regarding the nuclear agreement. According to the Deputy Foreign Minister, discussions will continue on Tuesday, focusing on regional conditions and 'common concerns.' Tasnim News Agency reported that Ravanchi referred to the upcoming trip of the Iranian Foreign Minister and meetings between Federica Mogherini and Mohammad Javad Zarif, stating that 'this trip will take place next week, and [Zarif] will meet with Mogherini to discuss bilateral issues.' On the other hand, Alexi Tsipras, the Prime Minister of Greece, stated that Athens is willing to cooperate with Iran 'beyond the framework of the European Union,' and 'Greek companies, backed by major European banks, are interested in investing and cooperating with Iran in all areas, especially shipping, construction, and services.' Following the implementation of the nuclear agreement, Greece was one of the first European countries to increase its economic relations with Iran. Athens announced at the beginning of February that it would now purchase 25% of its oil needs from Iran, which is five percent more than its oil imports before the intensification of international sanctions. According to Press TV, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, also stated that bilateral relations could expand in all areas, 'especially economic, cultural, and academic.' Tsipras mentioned that Greece is ready to establish a direct flight route between Athens and Tehran.