Gentiloni made the remarks during a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran on Saturday.
Italy’s chief diplomat said Rome is backing a solution to the nuclear issue, saying it will be in line with the involved countries’ peace, interests and economic exchanges.
The latest round of talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) was held in Geneva last week. Negotiators from Iran and the 5+1 group will also meet in Montreux, Switzerland, on March 5.
Sensitive stage
Zarif said nuclear talks between Iran and the 5+1 group have got close to their "sensitive” stages, evaluating the latest round of nuclear talks in Geneva as "thorough”.
Zarif said "remarkable advances” were made on technical issues in the last week’s talks, however, there are still differences on how to remove sanctions and other issues.
"Serious advances were made in the last week’s talks. We hope that progress would be made on other issues, specifically removal of sanctions in this week (next week; in that case we will make a comprehensive and precise agreement,” Zarif stated.
The Iranian foreign minister went on to say that sanctions have never been useful in achieving any objectives and the U.S. and the other countries should come to the conclusion that sanctions are just an "obstruction” and do not solve anything.
Iran is ready to conclude a comprehensive agreement if the other side adopts such a viewpoint, Zarif added.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he stated that the Italian and Iranian officials are ready to expand bilateral ties.
He expressed hope that political and economic relations between the two countries would be expanded.
The Italian foreign minister also said countries have common interests in fighting against extremists, particularly the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).