US, Iran hold bilateral nulcear talks in Geneva

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

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

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

A statement from the U.S. Department of State said that U.S. acting Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman and the American negotiating team would meet on 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. Enditem