Iran: EU chief arrives for nuclear talks

THE European Union’s foreign policy chief has arrived in Iran, her first visit to the Islamic Republic as nuclear talks with world powers continue.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. Picture: Getty

The official IRNA news agency said Baroness Catherine Ashton arrived in Tehran last night for talks with Iranian leaders, including President Hassan Rouhani.

Ashton leads the six-nation group – the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany – in talks with Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Iranian media said the visit signals the normalisation of Iran’s relations with Europe after eight years of tension under Rouhani’s hardline predecessor, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Iran struck an initial deal with world powers on 24 November to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for an easing of sanctions.