Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says Iran and France have a common stance that their negotiations should be continued based on mutual respect aimed at ending the existing challenges.

Amirabdollahian wrote on his Twitter page that his meeting with his French counterpart Catherine Colonna was on bilateral ties, the recent Tehran-Riyadh agreement, the Ukraine war, regional issues, and the termination of sanctions.

“In my frank and fruitful talk with Ms. Colonna, France's minister of foreign affairs, in Beijing which took two hours we talked on bilateral talks, the recent Tehran-Riyadh agreement, Ukraine, regional issues including Palestine and Lebanon, termination of sanctions, and our country’s peaceful nuclear program,” he said.

He added that while criticizing the France government’s behavior about remaining committed to Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) commitments, he has also emphasized that the rights of the French protesters need to be respected.

The Iranian diplomat further stressed that Iran favors continuing the nuclear negotiations based on mutual respect, aimed at ending the existing challenges.

During the two-hour meeting with Colonna, the Iranian foreign minister said, the sides discussed mutual relations, the recent agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to normalize relations, which have been severed for seven years, developments in Ukraine, and regional issues, including Palestine and Lebanon as well as Tehran's peaceful nuclear program and the removal of sanctions.

Amir-Abdollahian was leading the Iranian delegation in the reconciliation talks in Beijing between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Beijing was chosen as the venue for the meeting as an extension of its positive role in mediating the Iran-Saudi rapprochement and facilitating communication between the two Middle Eastern powers.