Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Diplomats of Iran, the U.S. and the European Union started two-day talks on Tehran's nuclear program in Geneva on June 9.

Head of the Iranian delegation, Abbas Araqchi has termed the first day of direct talks between Iran and the U.S. as "constructive".

He further noted that bilateral talks between delegates from the U.S. and Iran lasted five hours on June 9.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Araqchi and Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi headed the Iranian delegation in the talks.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns led the American delegation and was accompanied by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman.

Helga Schmidt, deputy to the European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton, also took part in the meeting.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Araqchi called on the six world powers to devote serious efforts to narrowing differences with Tehran in the course of the ongoing nuclear talks.

He noted that Iran and the P5+1 still have disagreements in different areas.

Araqchi said the bilateral meetings with some of the members of the six countries are aimed at holding more detailed and elaborate consultations to further examine various alternatives and bridge the gaps.

Prior to the talks, Araqchi said the meeting between officials from Iran and the U.S. in Geneva next week will focus only on nuclear issues.

He noted that lifting of sanctions imposed against Iran will be among the topics to be discussed during the meeting with American officials.

The talks come ahead of the next round of negotiations over Tehran's nuclear energy program scheduled for June 16-20 in the Austrian city of Vienna.

Representatives from Iran will probably hold further meetings with other delegations from the six powers - the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on June 9 direct talks between Iran and France on Tehran's nuclear energy program will be held on June 11.

Iranian officials will later sit down with Russian diplomats in the Italian capital, Rome, on June 11-12.

Iran and the six countries have been holding talks to iron out their differences and reach a final deal to end the standoff over the Islamic Republic's nuclear energy program.

The two sides held the latest round of nuclear negotiations in Vienna in mid-May.