Senior U.S. and Iranian officials have begun rare high-level direct talks in Geneva over Tehran's disputed nuclear program.
Iran's top negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, said that "the bilateral talks could allow for a convergence of positions and thus an agreement."
The Geneva talks between U.S. and EU diplomats and Iran's negotiators are expected to last for two days.
The U.S. team is led by Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, while Helga Schmidt, the deputy of EU foreign-policy chief Catherine Ashton, reportedly also attended the Geneva meeting.
Iran and six world powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, and Germany -- are trying to reach a comprehensive agreement by July 20 to end the decade-long row over Iran's nuclear program.
Under an interim agreement struck in November 2013, Iran agreed to freeze some nuclear activities for six months in exchange for an easing of sanctions.
The next round of talks between the P5+1 and Iran is scheduled in Vienna starting on June 16.
Iran's top negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, said that "the bilateral talks could allow for a convergence of positions and thus an agreement."
The Geneva talks between U.S. and EU diplomats and Iran's negotiators are expected to last for two days.
The U.S. team is led by Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, while Helga Schmidt, the deputy of EU foreign-policy chief Catherine Ashton, reportedly also attended the Geneva meeting.
Iran and six world powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, and Germany -- are trying to reach a comprehensive agreement by July 20 to end the decade-long row over Iran's nuclear program.
Under an interim agreement struck in November 2013, Iran agreed to freeze some nuclear activities for six months in exchange for an easing of sanctions.
The next round of talks between the P5+1 and Iran is scheduled in Vienna starting on June 16.