Iran: Resumed Nuclear Talks Useful

Local Editor

Iran welcomed as "useful" Thursday its first round of nuclear talks with the major powers since the two sides gave themselves another seven months to strike a deal.

"We had intensive and useful discussions," Iran's lead negotiator, deputy foreign minister Abbas Araqchi, told state television after a two-hour meeting in Geneva on Wednesday.

He further added: "All issues were discussed. We'll have a new meeting in a little under a month."

Araqchi held two days of talks with a US delegation headed by Acting Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman ahead of the plenary session with the six powers.

The powers, which also include Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia, held formal talks with the Iranians in Vienna last month.

All parties agreed to give themselves seven more months - until June 30 - to strike a deal, although they said they hoped to have the broad outlines hammered out by March.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team