BRUSSELS -- Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Mohammad-Javad Zarif, has described the EU decision to open trade and political talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran as a significant political step that would benefit both sides.

"It is an important political step on part of the EU to start negotiations with Iran and it would certainly benefit both Iran and the EU," Zarif told IRNA in an interview.

EU foreign ministers in a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday took a landmark decision of giving the European Commission the mandate to commence talks with the Islamic Republic for a trade and cooperation agreement.

Zarif, currently visiting Brussels, met EU Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten Tuesday afternoon and discussed the mandate and the procedures for beginning the talks.

The agreement provides a more conducive atmosphere for trade and economic cooperation between Iran and the other EU countries.

There is a readiness on part of the EU to start negotiations as soon as the mandate is ready and the directives have been issued, he said.

"It is also important that we continue dialogue with the EU on other issues of mutual concern where we need to express our concerns about various elements of behavior in the West as well as listen to the concerns of the West and in the process reach a better understanding," noted Zarif.

"We have a number of concerns on various items from terrorism to weapons of mass destruction which should be raised with the EU," the Iranian official noted.

Zarif said the issue of terrorism needs to be addressed on a serious rule-based fashion without any discrimination and which needs to start with a clear definition of terrorism.

He said that after September 11 event attempts have been made to use terrorism as a shield to carry out certain policies.

In reply to a question on the lobbying by the U.S. with the EU not to go ahead with the mandate with Iran, Zarif replied, "Unfortunately the U.S. has made it a practice to interfere in peaceful relations between countries which would only help stability and development .

The behavior of the U.S. has been a cause of concern and it should not expect this irrational behavior to be accepted by others.

I believe the decision of the EU represents a triumph of rationality over an irrational policy that does not serve anybody's interests including the U.S.," stressed Zarif.