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Iran, 6 powers may make progress at nuclear talks

Dunya News

Nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers will start today in Istanbul.

Irans Chief Negotiator Saeed Jalili met Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday (April 13) ahead of the nuclear talks between the six world powers and Iran, which will be held in Istanbul on Saturday.Saturdays meeting is widely seen as a chance for the six major powers - the United States, France, Russia, China, Britain and Germany - and Iran to hold rare talks aimed at easing fears that a deepening dispute over the Islamic Republics nuclear programme could plunge the Middle East into a new war.The West accuses Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capability and Israel has hinted at military strikes to prevent its arch foe from obtaining such arms.Iran, which has come under increasingly tough Western sanctions targeting its oil exports, says its nuclear programme is peaceful and has repeatedly ruled out suspending it.Diplomats and analysts played down any expectations for any major breakthrough in the first round of discussions, but say the meeting may pave the ground for further negotiations aimed at resolving the long-running dispute.Jalili headed a four-member Iranian delegation, state television said.Iranian news agencies said his deputy Ali Baqeri would hold talks with Russian and Chinese officials later on Friday.The formal talks with the six powers and their chief representative, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, will get underway on Saturday, but Ashton and Jalili are expected to meet over dinner on Friday evening.
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