Raisi to European Council President:

Tehran (IP) - After a formal request for a telephone conversation with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, spoke with Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday afternoon, and during the conversation, Iran President said that non-constructive actions in the International Atomic Energy Agency naturally disrupt the negotiation process as well.

Iran PressIran news: Raisi said in the telephone conversation: "The Islamic Republic of Iran tends to develop relations with the European Union and countries in areas of mutual interest."

Regarding Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Raisi said: "The serious cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the IAEA is a clear example of Iran's will for transparency in its nuclear activities. It is natural that in the case of a non-constructive treatment in the International Atomic Energy Agency, its unreasonable to expect Iran to have a constructive response. Non-constructive actions naturally disrupt the negotiation process as well."

The President said that the continuation and stability of bilateral relations with the European Union and each of the member states depend on the principle of mutual respect, focusing on common grounds and preventing the influence of external factors on these relations, adding: "This requires the practical will of the European side and not making it dependent on the will of powers with a unilateral approach like the United States.”

Raisi continued the telephone conversation about the developments in Afghanistan: "All countries must interact with each other to establish a government in Afghanistan that can bring peace, security and development to the country, and on the other hand, is trusted by the people of Afghanistan.”

Raisi added: "The whole world witnessed that Iran was the only country that seriously and truly confronted ISIL in Iraq and Syria. Martyr Soleimani was a hero in the fight against terrorism in the region and the world, and it was expected that European countries would take a fair stand against his assassination by the US government in order to condemn terrorism and defend a counter-terrorism hero."

On restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the President noted: "You know very well that Iran has never violated the deal. It was the Americans who withdrew from it and violated it. Nevertheless, the Europeans were expected to live up to their commitments under the JCPOA, but they did not."

In this phone call, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, stressed the serious will of the European Union to develop bilateral relations and deepen economic cooperation with Iran, saying: "Sanctions have had an adverse effect on EU-Iran relations, and this is one of the reasons why the concept of strategic independence has become important for the European Union."

Expressing concern over the influx of large numbers of asylum seekers into Europe, Charles Michel called on Iran to play a role and work to restore stability to Afghanistan, stating: "Europe's first priority is the safe exit of European and Afghan nationals who work with us in the country."

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