Iran, six world powers end talks on Tehran's nuclear program, agree on outstanding issues

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Iran's talks with the European Union have ended with an agreement over outstanding issues about the practical details of implementing a nuclear agreement, Iranian state television reported on Friday.

But the implementation of the deal reached in Geneva in November will take place after consultations with the capitals of Iran and the six major powers involved in the talks that were on Friday represented by the European Union, it said.

EU, Iran deputy foreign policy chiefs begin talks on Tehran's nuclear programme.

Deputy foreign policy chiefs of the European Union and Iran are meeting here on Thursday to discuss how soon the sides would be able to start implementing the accords reached between Iran and the Sextet of international mediators (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany) on Tehran's nuclear program, Michael Mann, the spokesman for European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, told reporters.

The bilateral meeting has started, he said. The talks involve Helga Schmidt, European Union Deputy High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Later in the day, Araghchi is expected to meet with Wendy Sherman, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, who arrived at the Geneva hotel, where the talks are being held behind closed doors, in the morning. The sides however agreed to provide no details of the negotiations. According to Mann, no events for the press are planned. It is not ruled out that the talks would yield a communiqué, he added.

Iran's Zarif optimistic on eve of nuclear deal talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Wednesday he was optimistic about a landmark nuclear agreement with world powers, saying negotiations were progressing amid "strong political will". The comments by Iran's top nuclear negotiator on his Facebook page came on the eve of the resumption in Geneva on Thursday of talks aimed at putting into action the interim nuclear deal clinched in November.

"The nuclear talks are continuing with seriousness and a strong political will," Zarif wrote, adding that hours of technical talks with experts from the so-called P5+1 group of world powers in December had produced "positive results".

On Thursday his deputy, Abbas Araqchi, will meet Helga Schmid, deputy to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton whose office represents the P5+1 group in decade-long negotiations with Tehran.

Their talks are due to last for two days.

Araqchi was quoted by Iranian news agencies as saying it was possible US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman might stop off in Geneva en route to Moscow and that "there might be a three-way meeting".

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said the talks will focus on remaining issues "pending a political decision" before the deal can go into effect on January 20, a date mooted by both sides.

Under the interim deal, once implemented, Iran will curb parts of its nuclear drive for six months in exchange for modest sanctions relief and a promise by Western powers not to impose new sanctions.

The deal is meant to buy time for diplomacy to clinch a lasting agreement that would allay Western suspicions that Iran is covertly pursuing a nuclear weapons capability.

Tehran denies wanting nuclear weapons but many in the international community suspect otherwise.

And neither Israel -- widely considered to be the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear-armed state - nor Washington have ruled out military action.

Zarif said Iran was "very serious" about the negotiating process due to begin after the interim deal is implemented.

"We believe commitment to the Geneva deal will (allow) progress into the next difficult phase of negotiations, and make reaching a comprehensive accord quite conceivable," he said.