BRUSSELS, 23 September 2021, (TON): High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell met in the margins of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA) with Foreign Minister of Iran Hussein Amir-Abdollahian. They followed-up on their first phone conversation on 31 August.

The discussion focused on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The High Representative stressed the need for full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to resolve outstanding issues and reiterated his concern about the overall trajectory of the Iranian nuclear programme.

High Representative Borrell, as the Coordinator of the JCPOA Joint Commission, underlined once again the great importance of a quick resumption of the Vienna talks to bring the JCPOA back to full implementation. The Iranian Foreign Minister assured of the willingness to resume negotiations at an early date.

Finally, High Representative Borrell and Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian discussed EU-Iran bilateral cooperation, including on climate change, trade, security and migration and touched upon human rights issues.