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| Iran nuclear talks 'yield little progress' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Iran has failed to deliver a "clear and concrete response" to a proposal aimed at ending deadlock over its nuclear programme, a Western diplomat has said. | Iran has failed to deliver a "clear and concrete response" to a proposal aimed at ending deadlock over its nuclear programme, a Western diplomat has said. |
| Tehran said it had offered "specific plans" at the opening of the talks with world powers in Kazakhstan. | Tehran said it had offered "specific plans" at the opening of the talks with world powers in Kazakhstan. |
| But the diplomat there said they were a "reworking" of proposals rejected at last year's talks in Russia. | |
| Iran insists its nuclear programme is purely civilian, but world powers suspect it has a military intent. | |
| The Iranian chief negotiator, Saeed Jalili, strongly defended its programme ahead of the talks, saying the global community must accept Tehran's right to enrich uranium. | The Iranian chief negotiator, Saeed Jalili, strongly defended its programme ahead of the talks, saying the global community must accept Tehran's right to enrich uranium. |
| The talks have now ended for the day and are expected to resume again on Saturday. | |
| 'Practical solution' | |
| Mr Jalili opened the talks in Almaty on Friday morning by presenting "specific plans and proposals for starting a new round of co-operation" between Iran and Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany (P5+1), his deputy Ali Bagheri said. | Mr Jalili opened the talks in Almaty on Friday morning by presenting "specific plans and proposals for starting a new round of co-operation" between Iran and Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany (P5+1), his deputy Ali Bagheri said. |
| But a Western diplomat, who did not want to be named, said that the P5+1 was "somewhat puzzled by the Iranians' characterisation of what they presented" at the morning session. | But a Western diplomat, who did not want to be named, said that the P5+1 was "somewhat puzzled by the Iranians' characterisation of what they presented" at the morning session. |
| "There has not yet been a clear and concrete response to the... proposal" made by the P5+1 at their most recent talks, in February, in Almaty, the diplomat said. | "There has not yet been a clear and concrete response to the... proposal" made by the P5+1 at their most recent talks, in February, in Almaty, the diplomat said. |
| "There were some interesting but not fully explained general comments on our ideas. It was mainly a reworking of what they said in Moscow." | "There were some interesting but not fully explained general comments on our ideas. It was mainly a reworking of what they said in Moscow." |
| Saeed Jalili told an audience at Almaty university on Thursday: "We think our talks... can go forward with one word. That is the acceptance of the rights of Iran, particularly the right to enrichment." | Saeed Jalili told an audience at Almaty university on Thursday: "We think our talks... can go forward with one word. That is the acceptance of the rights of Iran, particularly the right to enrichment." |
| "We are talking about peaceful nuclear energy," he stressed, accusing "a handful of countries" of trying "to deny this right to others". | "We are talking about peaceful nuclear energy," he stressed, accusing "a handful of countries" of trying "to deny this right to others". |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in Madrid on Thursday he hoped for "very meaningful progress" from the negotiations, urging the Iranians to prove their programme was for peaceful purposes. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in Madrid on Thursday he hoped for "very meaningful progress" from the negotiations, urging the Iranians to prove their programme was for peaceful purposes. |
| At the previous round of talks in Kazakhstan in February, the world powers tried to push Tehran to halt production and stockpiling of uranium enriched to 20% - a step away from achieving a nuclear weapons capability. | At the previous round of talks in Kazakhstan in February, the world powers tried to push Tehran to halt production and stockpiling of uranium enriched to 20% - a step away from achieving a nuclear weapons capability. |
| The P5+1 also demanded Iran shut down the Fordo underground enrichment facility. | The P5+1 also demanded Iran shut down the Fordo underground enrichment facility. |
| In return the world powers suggested easing tough economic sanctions against Iran. | In return the world powers suggested easing tough economic sanctions against Iran. |
| Several rounds of sanctions have squeezed Iran's economy, with oil revenue slashed, the currency nose-diving in value and unemployment growing. | Several rounds of sanctions have squeezed Iran's economy, with oil revenue slashed, the currency nose-diving in value and unemployment growing. |
| But significant differences reportedly remain on how far both sides are willing to go to reach a mutually accepted compromise. | But significant differences reportedly remain on how far both sides are willing to go to reach a mutually accepted compromise. |
| In March, US President Barack Obama said he had offered Iran a "practical solution" if it truly sought peaceful nuclear capabilities rather than weapons. | In March, US President Barack Obama said he had offered Iran a "practical solution" if it truly sought peaceful nuclear capabilities rather than weapons. |
| He urged the country to take "immediate and meaningful steps" to reduce tension with the international community. | He urged the country to take "immediate and meaningful steps" to reduce tension with the international community. |
| Meanwhile, Israel has warned that it will stop Iran's programme militarily if other means fail. | Meanwhile, Israel has warned that it will stop Iran's programme militarily if other means fail. |