TEHRAN – After a break for consultations with the capitals, the negotiators from Iran and the United States restarted their nuclear talks on Thursday.

The third round of talks between Iran and the U.S. began in Geneva on Thursday morning. The talks, held indirectly, are mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.

Raphael Grossi, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also participated in the negotiations.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Esmail Baqaei said “important suggestions were raised about both the nuclear program and removal of sanctions” during the roughly three-hour talks on Thursday morning.

The talks were “very serious”, the spokesperson told Iranian state television.

“Initiatives have been raised about which consultation with the capitals is needed,” he said.

The Al Mayadeen news network said the atmosphere of the talks is “positive”. It also said the talks may drag on until Friday.

The news network also said talks have been raised about the possibility of reaching a non-aggression treaty between the two sides.

It also said Iran has shown flexibility on the issue of nuclear enrichment. However, the network added, the American side has so far not agreed to the total lifting of sanctions on Iran.

Axios said the third round of nuclear talks has been held in two formats: indirectly, with the Omani foreign minister relaying messages between the sides, and directly between the U.S. and Iranian negotiators, according to a source with knowledge.

The Iranians presented their much-anticipated draft proposal for a nuclear deal.

Albusaidi said during the break in the talks that "we've been exchanging creative and positive ideas" and "hope to make more progress."

Axios said the U.S. was willing to show a degree of flexibility on Iran's demand that it retains the right to enrich uranium, but only if Tehran could prove there was no path to a bomb.

A key U.S. demand was that Iran give up on its stockpile of 10,000kg of enriched uranium.