Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held several meetings with foreign ministers of several states on Monday, including the United Kingdom’s Philip Hammond.

Hammond said he met the Iranian FM on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, according to a press release issued by British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

"We discussed bilateral relations and reaffirmed our commitment to reopen our embassies once the necessary practical arrangements can be made," said the British foreign secretary, reported IRNA news agency.

Hammond added that Iran’s nuclear program was another topic discussed in his meeting with Zarif.

"I stressed that it remains in all our interests to reach an agreement which addresses international security concerns and begins to rebuild global confidence in Iran as an international partner.

"I was clear with Foreign Minister Zarif that the UK remains committed to securing a deal," Hammond added.

Zarif also had meetings with FMs from Iceland, Ukraine, Turkmenistan and Pakistan in addition to the Secretary-General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Mehr news agency reported.

On Monday, Zarif and OIC Secretary-General Iyad Madani met with each other. Zarif stressed that Muslim World should avoid sectarian conflicts and unite to uproot terrorism and extremism.

Both sides described ISIL existence threat to the region and the whole world and called for unity and integrity among Muslims.

Zarif further had separate meetings with foreign ministers from Iceland, Ukraine, Turkmenistan and Pakistan and talked bilateral, regional and international issues.  
Iran’s foreign minister along with his nuclear negotiators are in New York on the occasion of 69th United Nations General Assembly summit and for the 7th round of nuclear negotiations since the interim Geneva deal.

Source: Agencies