Iran has clinched a 'great victory' against the West in Geneva talks, Tehran's interim Friday prayers leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ahmad Khatami says.

"The meeting was a great victory for the Islamic Republic of Iran to such an extent that even the Western and Zionist media had to admit defeat," Ayatollah Khatami told Friday prayers worshippers.

The senior cleric said the get-together was a big victory for Iran since there was 'no talk of sanctions or suspension' during the sit-down, unlike Western countries' previous threat that they would toughen sanctions against Tehran, should it continue its nuclear work.

Iran's latest package of proposals was, instead, the basis of the negotiations, Ayatollah Khatami added.

On October 1 in Geneva, Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili sat with representatives of the US, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany, known as P5+1, to discuss a wide range of global issues based on Iran's latest package of proposals.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, who has been representing the West in nuclear talks with Iran since 2003, was also present in the meeting.

The seven-and-a-half hour sit-down, which was described as 'constructive' by both sides, revolved around concerns shared by Iran and the West over certain global issues.

During the get-together, the six powers did not repeat their earlier call on Iran to halt its nuclear activities. Both sides agreed to resume talks through October.

Ayatollah Khatami also rejected claims about Iran's nuclear work. He said "it was Israel, and not Iran," that was the source of concern as it is in possession of 200 nuclear warheads and remains a non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The senior cleric also condemned the Israeli attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque, calling it in line with Tel Aviv's attempt to judaize Jerusalem Al-Quds.

Clashes erupted on Sunday after Israel closed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and deployed thousands of police forces in and around the mosque to secure a Jewish religious ceremony in the holy site.

After the eviction of the settlers by Muslim worshipers, the occupation forces turned on the crowds. About 16 Palestinians and several Israeli police were injured in the clashes.

AR/MMN