Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili expressed optimism on Friday that weekend talks attended for the first time by the United States over their nuclear standoff would be constructive, provided Washington came with the right approach.

“What is important for us is with what approach they come to the talks. If it is with a constructive approach, and that they refrain from past mistakes, then for sure we will have constructive talks,” he was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency before leaving Tehran for Geneva.

Jalili on Saturday is to meet the European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana to discuss a package of incentives offered by world powers to Tehran.

And, in a major policy shift by Washington, US Under-secretary of State William Burns will be at the talks.

“In these talks we will discuss the common points of the two packages and also both sides’ ideas on continuing the talks,” Jalili added.

He was referring to the incentive package offered by the world powers and to Iran’s own package which is aimed at “solving the world problems”.

Jalili, who heads Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), is accompanied on this trip by Ali Bagheri, the council’s deputy head in charge of international affairs.

Iran had said that the talks are aimed at finding “a framework” for future talks by the negotiating parties.

Earlier this week, US officials said that the “new tactic” of sending a senior official to the talks amounted to sending a signal to Iran that Washington wanted a negotiated settlement to the deadlock over Iran’s refusal to bow to international demands.

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