Tehran, Feb 14, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is to depart Tehran for Brussels at the head of delegation in order to consult with European Union officials Sunday afternoon.

Zarif is to discuss issues of mutual interests with EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini as well as senior officials of Belgium.

Meanwhile, Mogherini has announced that she will visit Tehran in spring accompaned by a high level delegation.

The topics to be discussed in the first round of talks are include energy, trade, banking and financial cooperation, environment, fight against terrorism and extremism and regional crises.

Confrontation with terrorism and extremism is a common challenge for Tehran and EU and although in the past years westerners had closed their eyes on war and massacre of innocent people in the Middle East, now with the influx of refugees towards European borders and terror attacks in Europe, the EU officials have got to notice their past negligence.

In spite of differences of views, Europe has traditionally been one of the most important priorities in Iran's foreign policy.

In past years and in different periods of time, Tehran and European Union had held negotiations within the frameworks of 'critical talks' and 'constructive talks' which had not produced any results but today, it seems that realities on the ground have paved the way for successful talks between Tehran and EU.

By IRNA