REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TEHRAN -- French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius arrived Wednesday in Iran and said it was time to kickstart relations between the two countries after a nuclear deal made such a change possible.

"It's an important trip," Fabius told reporters at the French embassy in Tehran as he started a short but much-heralded visit following the historic July 14 accord between Iran and six world powers.

As France's chief diplomat in those negotiations, Fabius gained a reputation for taking a hawkish public stance on what Iran must do under a nuclear deal.

He has also come under criticism from Iranian media, earning the nickname "the obstacle" in the ultimately successful talks.