Iran nuclear talks start in Baghdad

Published on 23/05/2012 14:19

The latest talks over Iran’s nuclear programme have started in Baghdad.

Representatives from world powers including the UK, US, China and Russia are meeting Iranian diplomats to hammer out new goals.

Iran wants the West to outline timetables and steps ahead in gradually addressing international concerns over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear ambitions.

Officials from the country are aiming to leave the Iraqi capital with a clear framework for future talks and potential deal-making, an official said.

Western diplomats have raised similar concerns.

However, few believe the discussions in Baghdad will yield breakthroughs in the showdowns over Iran’s nuclear intentions.

The US and its allies fear Iran could use its nuclear expertise to build atomic weapons. Iran claims it only seeks nuclear reactors for energy and research.

Iranian negotiators, who met Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki hours before the talks were to open, would not identify any specific offers or benchmarks they wanted to see by the day’s end.