Iran nuclear talks 'very useful': Minister

Iran's deputy foreign minister has described the most recent talks on the country's nuclear programme as "very useful", and confirmed that the next meeting between Iran and six major world powers would take place in January.

Abbas Araqchi's comments came after a one-day meeting was held on Wednesday behind closed doors in Geneva between Iran and the P5+1 countries: the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia, plus Germany.

The US and Iranian delegations also met on Monday and Tuesday in Geneva in preparation for the multilateral talks.

"We had very intense negotiations. It was very useful and helpful," Araqchi told reporters. "We had both bilateral discussions as well as a plenary with all the members of the group."

No exact details were released on the discussions. While a date has not yet been set, Araqchi said that talks would continue next month.

Both sides had failed to meet the 24 November deadline in Vienna for a permanent settlement to the nuclear issue.

Discussions have now been extended until the end of June next year, with the aim of what US Secretary of State John Kerry described as "finishing the political agreement" by March.

The P5+1 countries want Iran to curb its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions on the country. Iran, meanwhile, says its nuclear programme has only peaceful civilian purposes.