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Uncertainty reigns after Iran talks end in Geneva, no breakthrough expected

The meetings on Sunday were held in parallel at two levels

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GENEVA, February 23. /TASS/. The first day of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme has ended in Geneva, leaving uncertainty on the further discussions and their results.

The meetings on Sunday were held in parallel at two levels. US Secretary of State John Kerry met with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif for talks at the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva.

Simultaneously, the EU mission to the Geneva-based international organisations hosted the meeting of six negotiators /five permanent UN Security Council member-states plus Germany/ with the Iranian delegation at the level of political directors.

Kerry met with Zarif shortly after arriving in Geneva on Sunday afternoon. The top diplomats were later joined by Iran’s vice president and the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi, and US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz.

The talks lasted until midnight local time and could continue on Monday. The outcome of the meeting remains unknown.

Speaking on the talks of P5+1 political directors, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said: "The discussions went off very well, but we have not reached any progress so far."

The head of the French delegation at talks, Nicolas de Riviere, earlier said the talks had ended, without giving further details whether he meant the meeting on Sunday or the round of negotiations in general.

A source close to the talks told TASS no formal meeting of the P5+1 group is planned on Monday and only discussions on technical issues will be held at the level of experts.

The representatives of other delegations refused to comment.