Istanbul: World powers began potentially crucial talks with Iran on Friday over its disputed nuclear program, even as Western officials appeared to rule out one much-discussed path to beginning negotiations.
The six countries – the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China – are hoping to negotiate limits on Iran’s nuclear development program, which many powers fear is aimed at developing a bomb despite Iran’s denials.
Fourteen months after the last talks broke down in acrimony, representatives of six powers gathered for what is expected to be a one-day meeting Saturday with Saeed Jalili, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator.
Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign policy chief and the organizer of the talks, met with Jalili for dinner Friday night to prepare the way for the group talks.
The so-called P5 plus 1 nations want to see concrete signs that, after a series of false starts, Tehran is willing to disclose more about its half-hidden program and halt production of enriched uranium that could become fuel for a nuclear bomb.
On the Other hand a source close to the Iranian delegation says Iran sees few encouraging points in the remarks of US and EU officials.
However, the source added that the Iranian delegation will wait for the official remarks of the P5+1 when both sides sit at the negotiating table on Saturday.
Earlier on Thursday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated Tehran’s resolve to retain its fundamental rights even under the harshest pressures.
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