TEHRAN: Iran on Monday criticized European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton over an “unsanctioned” meeting she held with rights activists, although newspapers hailed her weekend visit to Tehran.

“Contact with (civil) society is recognized in diplomatic protocol so long as it does not constitute interference in internal affairs and respects customs,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkhan said. She said that “such incidents do not help relations.”

The Foreign Ministry has issued an “official caution” to the Austrian embassy, which is believed to have organized the “unsanctioned” encounter, she said in a statement carried by ISNA news agency.

Ashton, visiting Iran for the first time since taking up her post in 2009, is tasked with coordinating a diplomatic push by six world powers in talks with Iran on its controversial nuclear drive.

On Sunday, she held talks with top Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rowhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Ashton on Saturday met with a number of rights activists, including Narges Mohammadi and the mother of Sattar Beheshti, a blogger who died in detention under unclear circumstances in 2012. “Not surprisingly there was a big focus on human rights. I met with women activists on International Women’s Day and talked to them about the situation that women find themselves in,” she said.

Reformist daily Arman said her mission signalled “an extensive revision of the European Union’s approach toward Iran,” recalling a string of visits by top EU diplomats in recent months.

Another reformist paper, Shargh, argued the visit was a foreign policy success for Rowhani, who came to power in August vowing to mend strained ties with the outside world.

In a joint press conference with Zarif on Sunday, she warned that the negotiations on a comprehensive agreement will be difficult.