Russian and Iranian officials agreed to continue the negotiations Moscow's uranium enrichment proposal on Monday after concluding their first day of talks.

"The talks with the Iranian delegation in the Kremlin has concluded ... An agreement was reached to continue the talks," the press service of the Russian Security Council was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

Monday's talks were held behind closed doors and led by the deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council, Valentin Sobolev, and the deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Hosseinitash.

The talks "focus on the Iranian nuclear program and the Russian proposal to create a uranium enrichment joint venture in Russia," the press service said earlier.

It gave no indication when the talks are to resume.

Western countries have backed Moscow's compromise plan, saying it could help allay concerns over Iran potentially producing weapons-grade nuclear material.

Before the talks started, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed cautious optimism, saying Russia has "reserved expectations" over the negotiations.

But Russia "will be making every effort to prevent the situation from deteriorating and from stepping on a track leading to the use of force," Lavrov said.

Source: Xinhua