Brussels, 28/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - The new Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, will have many challenges to face, both internally and in terms of foreign policy, said the Luxembourg Presidency in a press release published on 28 June on behalf of the EU. The Twenty-Five regret the fact that the vast majority of candidates, including many reformers and all women, had been excluded from the elections, thus making the expression of democratic choice difficult for the Iranian people. The EU hopes that Iran will respect all of its international commitments and, in particular, will continue the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement of 15 November 2004 on its nuclear programme. The European Union confirms that it is prepared to continue to look into ways of developing political and economic cooperation with Iran, depending on the steps the country will take to answer the EU's concerns on its nuclear programme, the fight against terrorism, human rights and Iran's approach to the Middle East peace process, the declaration continues (see EUROPE 8978).