TEHRAN, Aug 23, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's new foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi,

has called for dialogue with the European Union to resolve bilateral issues,
following a phone call with the bloc's top diplomat.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the development of relations with the
European Union in an environment based on mutual respect," Araghchi said in a
statement issued late Thursday.

Relations between the EU and Iran have deteriorated in recent years.

The bloc accuses Tehran of failing to rein in its nuclear activity, providing
support to Palestinian militant group Hamas, backing Russia's war in Ukraine,
and committing human rights violations.

The development of relations "requires dialogue to resolve issues between the
two parties and the correction of the misguided policies of European
countries," Araghchi added.

For his part, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on social media
platform X that he had discussed "prospects for renewed engagement on all
files of mutual interest" with his Iranian counterpart.

The discussion included the "need for de-escalation and restraint" as well as
"halting military cooperation" with Russia against Ukraine and nuclear non-
proliferation.

Borrell said such "critical dialogue" was "essential to defuse regional
tensions".

Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah threatened reprisals against Israel
following the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and
a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut late last month.

Araghchi, who took up his post on Wednesday, is known for his openness to the
West.

He served as chief nuclear negotiator and played a key role in securing a
2015 agreement for Iran to curb its nuclear activity in return for an easing
of sanctions.

That deal was torpedoed in 2018 by then US president Donald Trump. Efforts to
revive it since 2022 have so far failed.