European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana is expected in Tehran tomorrow to meet Iranian officials for talks on ways to promote various aspects of Iran-EU relations. Solana yesterday arrived in India and also later visited Pakistan to discuss current tensions between the two neighboring countries.

The visit by Solana follows a recent visit by a high-ranking EU parliamentary delegation to the country. If anything else, the visits indicate the importance the EU attaches to ties with the Islamic Republic and Iran's influential role in regional affairs.

Iran-EU relations constitute a mutual tradition.

EU states have, since the birth of the Islamic Republic, been important trade partners for the Islamic Republic. However, as the republic struggled to defend its principled stances, certain political developments marred relations with these states.

The recent visits by EU officials shows that the EU is no longer restricted by the decisions of allies such as the U.S. Its policies toward Iran have increasingly become more independent and development-oriented. However, it is generally well known that the U.S. will not stop meddling in the affairs of countries that it sees as having favorable ties with defiant states -- and the Islamic Republic is no exception. Thus, just as the EU has begun to show great interest in developing ties with the Islamic Republic, the U.S. steps in to show its displeasure. And this it did recently when it imposed excessive tariffs on steel imported from the EU.

But the EU today is getting more and more of its voice heard in international developments because its integrity and ability to see developments without bias has been tested. In fact, it was one of the first to condemn the inhuman Israeli bombing last week of a heavily populated district in Gaza. Its troops have, until recently, been the major components of ISAF that guards the Afghan political landscape. As a fast emerging political, economic and military power, the EU can certainly now ignore pressures and prevent the enforcement of U.S. destructive policies.

Europe's emphasis in broadening cooperation with Iran will be an example for the international community to follow. On the other hand, it will gain more friends among independent nations if it shows that it can pursue policies independent of the influence of the White House.

It is no secret that Iran and the EU have had differences of opinion on issues of domestic and global concern. There have been differences, for example, on the issue of Palestine and human rights. But the EU has shown that it can set aside past differences particularly with respect to internal political developments in Iran in the interest of promoting joint interests.

It is but natural that countries would have different stances on regional and internal issues.

Stances on regional and international issues are influenced by not only political considerations but cultural and geographical factors as well.

Therefore, what both sides need to do is merely try to bring their viewpoints regarding world affairs closer to each other in the light of their need to promote political, economic and cultural bonds.

Hopefully, the recent visit by the EP delegation and Solana's talks with Iranian officials will hasten the conclusion of a trade and economic agreement with the Islamic Republic. This, it is believed, could be the last straw to a most profitable trade and economic cooperation that would guarantee a better future for their constituents.