German FM Interested In Dialog With New Iranian Counterpart

Berlin, Aug 17, IRNA -- German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle hopes to hold talks with his new Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of next months meeting of the UN General Assembly, foreign ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke told reporters here Friday. According to Peschke, Westerwelle phoned Zarif earlier in the day to felicitate him on his nomination as Iran's new foreign minister and voiced readiness to meet him at the UN in New York. Germany's chief diplomat also expressed hope for constructive and substantial talks with the new Iranian government over its nuclear program./end