Iranian and international negotiators are to hold new talks in two weeks to continue efforts to break the deadlock over Iran's disputed nuclear programme.
Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani has said Iran and the EU are approaching "a united view" in talks on settling the Iranian nuclear crisis.
The move came as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana described talks in Ankara as "constructive".
Mr Larijani is holding talks with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
It was their first meeting since the UN imposed sanctions on Iran in March for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment.
They have been meeting for the first time since the UN imposed sanctions on Iran in March for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment.
Iran denies US and EU accusations that it is trying to build nuclear weapons.
Iran denies US and EU accusations that it is trying to build nuclear weapons.
Tehran insists its enrichment programme is meant to produce civilian nuclear power.
'Constructive' talks
After more than five hours locked in discussion, Javier Solana called the process so far constructive.
Ali Larijani said they had had some good exchanges and described the talks as pleasant. The last hour or so was spent talking one to one over an Indian meal.
The aim of the talks is to agree conditions for formal negotiations
The men's aim is to find a formula to move to formal negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme.
Iran refuses to suspend its uranium enrichment activities. The international community says it is a vital condition ahead of any direct talks.
Iran's chief negotiator called that demand irrational but he did say there are ideas on the table.
Javier Solana confirmed that the discussion would continue on Thursday, and said he hoped in coming weeks too. But there was no detail from either side to indicate from where a possible compromise might come.
Diplomats have been hinting that it might lie in allowing Tehran a partial or temporary freeze on uranium enrichment rather than full suspension.
Javier Solana's spokeswoman though stressed that his position on that remains unchanged.
If these talks fail to break the deadlock, Iran faces a further UN deadline to suspend its nuclear activities in less than a month or face a third round of sanctions.
Tehran has defied all punishment so far, arguing that its nuclear programme is intended to produce power for electricity, not create the raw material for nuclear bombs.
