TEHRAN -- Delegations of Iran and the United States resumed negotiations in Geneva on Thursday evening, after both sides left the venue of the talks earlier in the day for a brief break and "internal consultations" following three hours of intensive diplomatic negotiations, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

Mediator Oman's Foreign Ministry said earlier in a statement that the two sides demonstrated "unprecedented openness to new and creative ideas and solutions" in the ongoing third round of their indirect negotiations.

The negotiations are taking place amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States as well as a US military buildup in the region.