TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi emphasized that the Iranian government prioritizes constructive engagement with European countries based on mutual respect and shared interests, reaffirming Iran’s commitment to foster strong diplomatic relations with other countries.
In a phone conversation with his Dutch counterpart, Kasperweldkamp on Saturday, Araguc highlighted his willingness to discuss common concerns and issues of cooperation with European partners.
The two ministers discussed various aspects of bilateral relations and important regional and international developments.
Woldkamp acknowledged the historical and longstanding relationship between the Netherlands and Iran, highlighting Iran’s important role in regional issues. He emphasized the importance of leveraging diplomatic channels to promote mutual understanding, strengthen intergovernmental relations, and addressing notable differences through dialogue.
One important topic being discussed was the issue of the three Iranian islands of the Persian Gulf. Veldkamp said the issue is a bilateral issue between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), reaffirming the Netherlands’ position to support direct negotiations between the two countries. He emphasized that conflicts should be resolved according to international law and that many years of support for the Dutch government’s diplomatic involvement should be repeated repeatedly as the best path.
Tensions between Iran and European countries have escalated over the past two years due to European accusations. European countries claim that Iran has supplied ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the Ukraine conflict. This is an allegation that Tehran has defied it resolutely.
In a recent lawsuit against Tehran, the European troika promoted the adoption of the resolution to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The resolution accused Tehran of inadequate cooperation with the agency and called for a “comprehensive” report on nuclear activities through spring 2025. In response, Iran said it had activated “a series of new, advanced centrifuges.”
Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut, have argued that diplomacy is still an option if real politics exists on the other side. Otherwise, alternative paths will be considered, highlighting Iran’s foreign policy principles of dignity, wisdom and convenience.
In January, the Iranian and European trio (E3) gave a series of lectures in Geneva. Iran’s Minister of Justice and International Affairs, Qasem Galibabadi described the consultation as “constructive.”