A fresh round of talks between Iran and world powers kicked off on Thursday with a push for Tehran to freeze its disputed nuclear program in exchange for some relief from sanctions.
Officials have said a long-awaited deal on curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions might be within reach, after years of fruitless talks were given momentum by the election of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, seen as a moderate.
In their second meeting in Geneva in less than a month, negotiators from the US and five other global powers sat down with Iranian officials for two days of talks aimed at hammering out an agreement.
The talks were chaired by Catherine Ashton, the EU diplomatic chief who heads the P5+1 group of Britain, China, France, Russia, the US and Germany.
Ashton started the day with a private meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to work out how talks would proceed.
"We have entered a detailed phase that is still difficult and precise," Zarif said on his Facebook page.
Iran is anxious for relief from crippling economic sanctions that have cut oil revenues in half, caused the value of the rial to plunge and pushed inflation above 40 per cent.
The West is also keen to seize an opportunity to build bridges with Iran after decades of hostility, opening the door to engaging with Tehran on other issues such the conflict in Syria, where Iran has backed President Bashar al-Assad against the anti-regime insurgents.
On the eve of this week's talks, a US official told journalists Washington was willing to offer Iran limited sanctions relief if it agreed to take a "first step" to stop advancing its nuclear program.
The official would not specify the offers on the table, but said the first stage would "put time on the clock" to negotiate a final agreement.
The P5+1 group has held years of talks with Tehran on its uranium enrichment, which Western powers suspect could be aimed at developing nuclear weapons.
Iran insists its nuclear program is for generating electricity and for medical purposes.
The six powers have been pushing Iran to freeze its enrichment efforts, reduce stockpiles and lower its capacity to produce nuclear material.
Both sides will have to overcome deep scepticism among hardliners opposed to any compromise.
Israel, believed to be the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear power, has opposed easing sanctions.
Ahead of the latest talks, Israel urged world powers to reject what it said was an Iranian offer to partly cut back its nuclear program in return for a reduction of sanctions.
"Israel in the last few hours has learned that a proposal will be brought before the P5+1 in Geneva in which Iran will cease all enrichment at 20 per cent and slow down work on the heavy water reactor in Arak, and will receive in return the easing of sanctions," an official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"Israel thinks this is a bad deal and will oppose it strongly."
Iran's enrichment of uranium to 20 per cent has been a source of concern as it is seen as a step towards the 90 per cent level required for a nuclear weapon.
The heavy water reactor under construction at Arak is also a source of worry as it would provide a source of plutonium.
Share
