President Rouhani, EU Foreign Policy Chief Meet

Tehran, March 9, IRNA – President Hassan Rouhani and visiting EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton discussed issues of mutual interests in a meeting here on Sunday. Heading an EU political and economic delegation, Ashton arrived here on Saturday at an invitation by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. This is her first visit to Tehran since 2008. So far, Ashton has met with foreign minister Zarif with whom she later attended a joint press conference. While in Tehran, she is to discuss various aspects of relations between Tehran and the EU as well as Iranˈs peaceful nuclear program. She is also to meet with Speaker of the Iranian parliament (Majlis) Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani and Chairman of the Center for Strategic Studies of the Expediency Council Ali Akbar Velayati. Ashton is accompanied by her deputy Helga Schmid and special aide Stefan Clement. It was previously reported that at the end of her meetings with senior officials in Tehran, Ashton and her entourage will visit the ancient city of Isfahan in central Iran./end