Iran's Zarif to meet EU foreign chief in Brussels

Brussels, Jan 10 (IANS/AKI) Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif will meet the European Union's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini here on Thursday to discuss progress in implementing landmark nuclear deal Iran signed with six world powers in July 2015.

"The meeting will take place in the context of the ongoing work to ensure a full and continued implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action," said a statement from Mogherini's office.

Britain's Foreign Minister Boris Johnson and his French and German counterparts Yves Le Drian and Sigmar Gabriel will also attend the meeting.

Gabriel told German public broadcaster ZDF that the recent anti-government protests in Iran would be on the agenda at the meeting with Zarif. The protests killed at least 21 people and led to the arrests of over 1,000 including 90 students.

Many observers believe the protests in Iran were led by the working class in protest over hardship caused by the country's economic woes. These woes persist despite the end of crippling sanctions under the 2015 deal to curb its atomic programme.

--IANS/AKI

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