Iran has said its proposal to nuclear talks in
Geneva has the "capacity to make a
breakthrough".
Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said world
powers were receptive to his plans, but negotiators had
agreed to keep the details confidential for now.
Teams from Iran and six other nations are holding two
days of discussions in Geneva on Iran's nuclear future.
The West suspects Iran of seeking a nuclear arms
capability and currently imposes punishing sanctions
against it.
Tehran denies the West's claim, saying its nuclear
programme is peaceful.
These are the first talks since Hassan Rouhani became
Iran's president in August.
President Rouhani is seen as more moderate than his
predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and there may be
more chance of a deal during these talks than in the
past.
'Businesslike talks'
Michael Mann, a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief
Catherine Ashton, told reporters that Iranian officials
had presented their proposal in PowerPoint format.
He said there was a sense of "cautious optimism" as the
closed-door talks began on Tuesday.
Mr Mann later added: "For the first time, very detailed
technical discussions continued this afternoon. High
Representative Ashton will now have a bilateral with
Minister Zarif and we will continue our discussions
tomorrow (Wednesday) morning."
Mr Araqchi said the first day of talks "went well",
according to Reuters news agency.
"We had very constructive, very good exchange of
views, very serious. It was, I can say, very businesslike."
But Mr Araqchi added: "It's too soon to judge."
The Iranian state-run Irinn news channel said Tehran
was offering to reduce its level of uranium enrichment -
a key UN demand.
Late on Tuesday, Mr Araqchi held bilateral talks with US
Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.
The Iranian team is led by Foreign Minister Mohammad
Javad Zarif, although much of the actual negotiating is
expected to be delegated to Mr Araqchi .
The discussions bring together Iran officials and
representatives of the "P5+1 group", made up of
Britain, China, France, Russia and the US plus Germany.
In a Facebook entry posted at the weekend, Mr Zarif
said the talks were the "start of a difficult and relatively
time-consuming way forward".
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton and her
Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif shared a
light moment as the talks began
"I am hopeful that by Wednesday we can reach
agreement on a roadmap to find a path towards
resolution," he added.
International negotiators want Tehran to take specific
steps to prevent it from ever being able to make
nuclear weapons, the BBC's James Reynolds in Geneva
reports.
In return, they promise to lift some of the international
sanctions which have been imposed in recent years.
However, the West has hinted that it will be difficult to
clinch a deal in just two days of talks.
"No-one should expect a breakthrough overnight," said
a senior US official, speaking on condition of
anonymity.
Uranium pledge
Western nations have demanded that Iran halt the
production and stockpiling of uranium enriched to 20%
- a step away from achieving a nuclear weapons
capability.
They also want Iran to send some of its stockpiles
abroad, and shut down the Fordo production site near
the city of Qom, where most of the higher-grade
enrichment work is done.
Since 2006 the UN Security Council has imposed a
series of sanctions - including asset freezes and travel
bans - on entities and people involved in Iran's nuclear
programme.
Separate US and the European Union sanctions have
targeted Iran's energy and banking sectors, crippling its
oil-based economy.
Iran wants the sanctions lifted.
Mr Araqchi insisted on Sunday that there could be no
question of Iran relinquishing its stockpiles of enriched
uranium.
"We will not allow even a gram of uranium to go out of
the country," he said in comments quoted on the
website of Iranian state TV.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
said it would be wrong to ease pressure on Tehran.
He told MPs that any move to let up on the Iranian
government would only strengthen its
"uncompromising elements", and Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "will be perceived as the
winner".
In reference to the current sanctions, he said it would
be "a historical mistake" to lift them.
But in the US - which has also shown a tough stance
against lifting sanctions on Iran - nine leading senators
said they were open to the idea of suspending new
sanctions if Tehran took significant steps to slow its
nuclear programme.
Geneva has the "capacity to make a
breakthrough".
Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said world
powers were receptive to his plans, but negotiators had
agreed to keep the details confidential for now.
Teams from Iran and six other nations are holding two
days of discussions in Geneva on Iran's nuclear future.
The West suspects Iran of seeking a nuclear arms
capability and currently imposes punishing sanctions
against it.
Tehran denies the West's claim, saying its nuclear
programme is peaceful.
These are the first talks since Hassan Rouhani became
Iran's president in August.
President Rouhani is seen as more moderate than his
predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and there may be
more chance of a deal during these talks than in the
past.
'Businesslike talks'
Michael Mann, a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief
Catherine Ashton, told reporters that Iranian officials
had presented their proposal in PowerPoint format.
He said there was a sense of "cautious optimism" as the
closed-door talks began on Tuesday.
Mr Mann later added: "For the first time, very detailed
technical discussions continued this afternoon. High
Representative Ashton will now have a bilateral with
Minister Zarif and we will continue our discussions
tomorrow (Wednesday) morning."
Mr Araqchi said the first day of talks "went well",
according to Reuters news agency.
"We had very constructive, very good exchange of
views, very serious. It was, I can say, very businesslike."
But Mr Araqchi added: "It's too soon to judge."
The Iranian state-run Irinn news channel said Tehran
was offering to reduce its level of uranium enrichment -
a key UN demand.
Late on Tuesday, Mr Araqchi held bilateral talks with US
Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.
The Iranian team is led by Foreign Minister Mohammad
Javad Zarif, although much of the actual negotiating is
expected to be delegated to Mr Araqchi .
The discussions bring together Iran officials and
representatives of the "P5+1 group", made up of
Britain, China, France, Russia and the US plus Germany.
In a Facebook entry posted at the weekend, Mr Zarif
said the talks were the "start of a difficult and relatively
time-consuming way forward".
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton and her
Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif shared a
light moment as the talks began
"I am hopeful that by Wednesday we can reach
agreement on a roadmap to find a path towards
resolution," he added.
International negotiators want Tehran to take specific
steps to prevent it from ever being able to make
nuclear weapons, the BBC's James Reynolds in Geneva
reports.
In return, they promise to lift some of the international
sanctions which have been imposed in recent years.
However, the West has hinted that it will be difficult to
clinch a deal in just two days of talks.
"No-one should expect a breakthrough overnight," said
a senior US official, speaking on condition of
anonymity.
Uranium pledge
Western nations have demanded that Iran halt the
production and stockpiling of uranium enriched to 20%
- a step away from achieving a nuclear weapons
capability.
They also want Iran to send some of its stockpiles
abroad, and shut down the Fordo production site near
the city of Qom, where most of the higher-grade
enrichment work is done.
Since 2006 the UN Security Council has imposed a
series of sanctions - including asset freezes and travel
bans - on entities and people involved in Iran's nuclear
programme.
Separate US and the European Union sanctions have
targeted Iran's energy and banking sectors, crippling its
oil-based economy.
Iran wants the sanctions lifted.
Mr Araqchi insisted on Sunday that there could be no
question of Iran relinquishing its stockpiles of enriched
uranium.
"We will not allow even a gram of uranium to go out of
the country," he said in comments quoted on the
website of Iranian state TV.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
said it would be wrong to ease pressure on Tehran.
He told MPs that any move to let up on the Iranian
government would only strengthen its
"uncompromising elements", and Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "will be perceived as the
winner".
In reference to the current sanctions, he said it would
be "a historical mistake" to lift them.
But in the US - which has also shown a tough stance
against lifting sanctions on Iran - nine leading senators
said they were open to the idea of suspending new
sanctions if Tehran took significant steps to slow its
nuclear programme.
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