An Iranian deputy foreign minister has termed the first day of direct talks between the Islamic Republic and the United States on Iran’s nuclear energy program as “constructive”. According to Iran Review, Seyyed Abbas Araqchi, who is a senior Iranian nuclear negotiator as well as Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, said “Negotiations between Iran and the US in the Swiss city of Geneva were held in a positive and constructive atmosphere.”

He further noted that bilateral talks between delegates from the US and Iran lasted five hours on Monday afternoon. He said that Helga Schmid, the deputy to EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, was also present in the meeting.

According to Araqchi, the talks will resume on Tuesday.

The top Iranian nuclear negotiator has called on the Sextet of world powers to devote serious efforts to narrowing differences with Tehran in the course of the ongoing nuclear talks.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi noted that Iran and the Sextet still have disagreements in different areas.

“Great efforts must be devoted to bringing the viewpoints closer and the other sides must make difficult decisions,” he said.

Araqchi pointed to Iran’s planned bilateral talks with some of the members of the Sextet before the next round of nuclear negotiations in Vienna on June 16-20 and said that the meetings are aimed at holding more detailed and elaborate consultations to further examine various alternatives and narrow the differences.

Araqchi noted that in the Vienna talks the two sides are expected to discuss the details and start drafting the final nuclear agreement.

He expressed optimism that the final agreement will be achieved before the end of the six-month duration of the Geneva interim nuclear agreement and noted that unless the issue is finalized, the two sides will have to extend the deal for another six-month term.

“It is still too soon to judge whether or not there is a need for an extension of the Geneva agreement. There is still optimism that we can achieve the final deal before the termination of the six-month term of the Geneva deal,” Araqchi pointed out.

An Iranian nuclear negotiator also said Iran’s nuclear talks with US and European officials set for Monday and Tuesday in Geneva will be frank and within the framework of the country's red lines.

“We will quite frankly put forth our viewpoints within the framework of the Islamic establishment’s red lines,” Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi said.

Takht-e-Ravanchi said the Geneva talks will bear results if they are based on “realities, not based on illusions and foreign pressure.”

Takht-e-Ravanchi and Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi will head the Iranian delegation in Geneva.