The senior member of Iranian nuclear negotiating team, Abbas Araqchi, has reported on the presence of US deputy secretary of state throughout Tehran-Washington Monday talks in Geneva, Switzerland, while adding that throughout these negotiations, which are held prior to official talks with G5+1, we only discuss nuclear topics.

According to IRNA, Iranian deputy foreign ministers, prior to commencement of the new round of nuclear talks in Vienna, meet and confer with their American and Russian counterparts, this Monday and Tuesday, in Geneva, and in the Italian Capital, Rome, this Wednesday and Thursday.

During a televised interview, Araqchi said annulment of sanctions will be one of the topics of discussions between Tehran and Washington.

He added that the US delegation will be led by the US Deputy State Secretary, William Burns, who is considered the second highest ranking official in the US State Department after John Kerry. Meanwhile, US Undersecretary of State, Wendy Sherman, accompanies Burns in this meeting.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister went on to add that Mr. Burns has previously taken part in these talks and we hope that his presence in these talks would be positive.

Araqchi added that he jointly leads the Islamic Republic of Iran’s delegation, along with Iran’s Deputy Minister for European and American Affairs, Majid Takht-e Ravanchi, throughout these talks.

Araqchi went on to remind that the majority of anti-Iran sanctions have been imposed by the US, and other G5+1 member states have not been involved in it.

In further remarks, Araqchi said Monday talks with the US is trilateral, and in addition to the officials of Iran’s Foreign Ministry and US State Department; Helga Schmid, the deputy of EU foreign policy chief, will attend it.

MR/MG