New york: European Council President Antonio Costa has stressed the importance of employing diplomacy to tackle issues across various sectors. Writing on his X account on Thursday, Costa revealed that he engaged in ‘a substantial exchange’ with President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York a day earlier.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, during their meeting, both leaders concurred that maintaining dialogue is crucial for addressing and resolving ongoing challenges. Costa specifically highlighted the significance of diplomatic efforts in dealing with Iran’s nuclear program, urging Pezeshkian to ‘take – even at this late stage – concrete steps towards full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).’

For his part, Pezeshkian reiterated that the Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently asserted it does not aim to develop nuclear weapons. He further emphasized that those who violated their commitments and withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) should bear responsibility for the current situation.