Australia’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, has been unable to convince Iran to take back asylum seekers during the first high level official talks between Iran and Australia in 12 years.



Bishop said her discussion with the Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, on the issue had been positive.



She said discussions would continue through a consular dialogue.



In 2003, then-immigration minister Philip Ruddock struck a deal to repatriate 190 Iranian nationals during a visit to Tehran.

Bishop was also due to meet with President Hassan Rouhani and was expected to discuss Iran’s nuclear program and efforts to combat Islamic State extremists in Iraq.

“I think it’s time for Australia and Iran to have this meeting,” she told reporters in Tehran before the meeting.