US, Iran hold bilateral n-talks in Geneva

Officials from the US and Iran held bilateral meetings here Monday over the latter's disputed nuclear programme, weeks after the failure to meet a Nov 24 deadline for a comprehensive nuclear deal.

An official with the US Mission here confirmed that Monday's talks started in the afternoon, and the bilateral talks between the two sides will continue Tuesday.

Monday's talks were held ahead of the new round of meetings between the P5+1 group, namely China, France, Russia, Britain, the US, plus Germany, and Iran scheduled Wednesday.

A statement from the US Department of State said that US acting Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman and the American negotiating team would meet Monday and Tuesday with Iranian officials in Geneva.

The statement read that these bilateral consultations would take place in the context of the P5+1 nuclear negotiations with Iran, and Deputy Secretary General for the European Union's External Action Service Helga Schmid would join for part of the bilateral meetings.

After these meetings, Sherman will participate into Wednesday's negotiations.

According to Iranian official media IRNA, the Iranian delegation is headed by two deputy foreign ministers Abbas Araqchi and Majid Takht-e Ravanchi.