DHAKA: Iranian newspapers on Monday welcomed European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton’s weekend visit to Teheran although her focus on human rights came under criticism.

Ashton met on Sunday with top Iranian officials, including president Hassan Rouhani and foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, reports The Straits Times.

‘Iran and Europe enter an era of cooperation,’ ran the headline in government-run daily Iran alongside a picture of the Rouhani-Ashton meeting.

According to the president’s office, Ashton delivered ‘the goodwill message’ of the 28-member European bloc to Rouhani.

BDST: 1938 HRS, MAR 10, 2014