Italian Senate Speaker Pietro Grasso in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed the hope that Tehran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) can reach a comprehensive deal on Iran's nuclear program.
During the meeting in Rome on Wednesday, Grasso confirmed Iran's key role in resolving the regional crises, and underlined that after the final agreement between Iran and the world powers the ground for much broader mutual cooperation will be paved.
"The recent Tehran visit of the chairman of the Italian Senate's Foreign Relations Committee was very fruitful and set the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral parliamentary cooperation," he added.
Iran and the six world powers have been in talks over a final and permanent solution to their nuclear standoff ever since they signed an interim deal in Geneva in November. On July 20, the deadline for reaching a final agreement on Iran's future nuclear activities was postponed by four months—until November 24—to give more time for diplomatic efforts.
Zarif and EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton in a joint statement after over two weeks of talks in July stressed the need for more efforts and time to reach an agreement with the world powers over Tehran's nuclear program.
The two officials who presided the negotiating sides, emphasized at the end of Iran-G5+1 negotiations that they have held different sessions in different forms and in a constructive atmosphere to reach a final comprehensive agreement.
Due to certain differences over some fundamental issues the two sides agreed to extend the Joint Plan of Action by November 24, they added.
On Monday, Zarif held a meeting with Ashton and then had a working lunch with her to discuss the latest developments in the nuclear talks between Tehran and the G5+1.