LATEST: Police Officer Sentenced Over Killing of Blogger Beheshti in Prison

Both the US and Iran have hailed bilateral nuclear talks in Geneva on Thursday as “constructive”.

The lead Iranian negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that the “main focus” of the talks was how to bridge “existing differences” and reach common ground.

Iran and the 5+1 Powers (US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China) adjourned talks for a comprehensive nuclear deal on July 18 in Vienna, after 16 days of discussions. An interim arrangement was extended to November 24 so negotiations could continue.

Araqchi said “more detailed discussions” would be held with other members of the 5+1 Powers, ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York in late September.

State Department spokesman Marie Harf said, “It was, I would say, a constructive discussion. We’re not going to get into details.”

The Iranians also did not give information about outstanding issues, such as the number and level of centrifuges for uranium enrichment and the lifting of US-led sanctions.

In a sign of US intentions for the talks, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and Jake Sullivan, Vice President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor — both of whom were in Geneva on Thursday — will continue as special Government employees, although they are leaving their current posts in the coming weeks.

The decision shows Washington is “very serious about getting a deal done by November 24” a senior US official said. “They are not letting anybody get out. It’s all hands on deck.”

Police Officer Sentenced Over Killing of Blogger Beheshti in Prison

A cyber-police officer has been sentenced to 3 years in prison and 74 lashes over the killing blogger Sattar Beheshti in prison in November 2012.

Beheshti was arrested at the end of October, and his death announced a few days later.

Iranian officials, including the judiciary and leading MPs, insisted that Beheshti had died of natural causes. However, the coroner’s report provided evidence of beating and torture.

The cyber-police officer was charged with manslaughter. No one else has been detained in the case.