Rouhani: Iran Seeks Closer Cooperation with the European Union

Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, expressed the Islamic Republic's desire for increased cooperation with the European Union during the visit of Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides to Tehran. On Sunday, January 21, Kasoulides also spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. According to Mehr News Agency, Rouhani told the Cypriot Foreign Minister that Iran is looking to establish 'closer relations and cooperation with the European Union,' and that the relationship between Iran and the EU is improving day by day. Cyprus, as a member of the EU, could play a more effective role in strengthening relations between Iran and the EU. Rouhani added that enhancing these collaborations is essential to prevent the spread of violence and extremism in the Middle East and around the Mediterranean. According to Iranian news agencies, the Cypriot Foreign Minister confirmed Rouhani's remarks about combating terrorism and extremism, calling for greater cooperation between the two countries, especially in the economic field. He noted that part of last year's economic crisis in Cyprus might have been due to the sanctions imposed on Iran, which led to a trade imbalance between the two countries. The Cypriot Foreign Minister also stated that Iran could play a significant role in resolving the Syrian issue and should have been invited to the Geneva peace conferences. Iran and the EU have differences not only regarding Iran's nuclear program but also concerning the Islamic Republic's policies related to Syria and the human rights situation in Iran. On Sunday, Mohammad Javad Zarif, after meeting with his Cypriot counterpart, stated in a press conference that a significant portion of their discussions focused on regional security cooperation, the fight against terrorism, and the situation in the Middle East, Lebanon, and Syria. Zarif also mentioned that he intends to travel to several European countries after negotiating with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday, January 24, in Geneva, emphasizing that this week's negotiations in Geneva will only pertain to nuclear issues. Ayatollah Khamenei has repeatedly stated that he is not willing to negotiate on Iran-U.S. relations, and the nuclear negotiations are entirely separate from these relations. In this context, the President of the European Parliament has called for a halt to the death sentence of Reyhaneh Jabbari, stating that 'the logic of the Islamic Republic is opposed to the logic of Europe regarding human rights.'