U.S., Iran hold nuclear talks in Geneva

GENEVA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Senior delegates from the United States and Iran meet in Geneva on Monday for their first official talks over decades in a bid to further negotiate Tehran's nuclear program.

The two delegations, headed by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns and Iranian Vice Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi respectively, kicked off a two-day closed-door talks in Geneva.

U.S. Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and EU Political Director Helga Schmid reportedly also join the talks.

The Geneva talks marked the first time the two countries held direct official talks on nuclear issue outside the framework of P5+1 group, including the permanent members of the UN Security Council, namely the U.S., Britain, Russia, China and France, plus Germany, since the 1980s.

The face-to-face talks aimed at bridging gaps after the nuclear talks between Iran and six major powers in Vienna last month concluded with no major breakthrough.

Western countries accused Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons and demanded that Iran significantly scale back its nuclear program and subject it to more transparency.

Tehran said it has the right to develop nuclear programs under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes only.

Analysts say the talks would help to bring about a comprehensive nuclear agreement before the deadline of July 20, pinned down in a deal last November between Iran and the major powers.

A full round of negotiations, which involves U.S. , Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and Iran will be scheduled on June 16-20 in Vienna.

Bilateral meetings between Iran and other members of the P5+1 group will also be held before that. Iranian media reported that the country will also hold a bilateral meetings with Russian negotiators in Rome on June 11-12.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-06/09/c_133394818.htm