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Iran nuclear talks resume in Moscow Iran nuclear talks in Moscow 'yield no breakthrough'
(about 4 hours later)
A new round of talks on Iran's controversial nuclear programme has opened in the Russian capital, Moscow. A new round of talks on Iran's nuclear programme being held in the Russian capital, Moscow, has yielded few signs of a breakthrough, reports say.
The two-day meeting between Iran and six world powers follows inconclusive sessions in Istanbul and Baghdad over the last two months. Russia's negotiator has said differences between Iran and the powers at the talks have proved "hard to reconcile", Russian media say.
Earlier this month, the UN's nuclear watchdog admitted that its talks with Tehran had ended with "no progress". The talks between Iran and six nations follows other recent inconclusive rounds in Istanbul and Baghdad.
The West suspects that Iran is seeking to build a nuclear weapon - a claim denied by Tehran. The West suspects Iran is seeking nuclear weapons, a claim it denies.
The talks between negotiators from Tehran and six world powers - the US, Britain, China, Russia, France and Germany - began at 0800 GMT. Earlier this month, the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said talks held with Iran in Vienna had made "no progress".
The powers are expected to repeat three specific demands made last month, the BBC's James Reynolds in Moscow reports. The latest negotiations between between representatives of Tehran and the so-called P5+1 (US, UK, China, Russia, France and Germany) took place in Moscow's Golden Ring hotel.
Our correspondent says that they want Iran to stop enrichment of uranium to 20%, to export its stockpile of 20%-enriched uranium and to close a heavily-fortified underground enrichment facility near the city of Qom. Following the talks, Russian news agency Interfax quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying: "The main stumbling block is that the sides' positions are rather difficult and tough to reconcile."
Michael Mann, spokesman for the P5+1, told reporters there was an "intense and tough" exchange of views during the day.
"We agreed to reflect overnight on each other's positions," he said.
'Businesslike start'
It was in contrast to the start of the talks, when the respective lead negotiators - Saeed Jalili for Iran and Baroness Catherine Ashton for the P5+1 - nodded "hello" to one another and took their seats on opposite sides of a table separated by a bloom of white flowers.
Mr Mann told reporters then that the atmosphere was good and businesslike.
He said that the world powers were hoping that Iran would seriously engage with their concrete proposals.
These include a demand that Iran suspend enrichment of uranium to 20%, export its stockpile of 20%-enriched uranium and close down an underground enrichment facility near the city of Qom.
In return, the world powers say that they are prepared to start by offering help with nuclear safety measures.In return, the world powers say that they are prepared to start by offering help with nuclear safety measures.
But for Iran that is not enough, our correspondent says. Iran is seeking more though: it wants the West to lift sanctions, including an EU oil embargo and US measures against Iran's Central Bank.
Tehran wants the West to lift sanctions, including an EU oil embargo and US measures against Iran's Central Bank. It also says its "non-negotiable" right to enrich uranium must be recognised.
It also says that Iran's "non-negotiable" right to enrich uranium must be recognised.
The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been trying to get access to sites inside Iran, including one at Parchin suspected of being used for experiments related to nuclear weapons.
However, the IAEA's chief inspector, Herman Nackaerts, said earlier this month that the lack of progress at talks in Vienna had been "disappointing".
Last November, an IAEA report claimed Iran had "carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear device".
Iran denies its nuclear programme has any military aspect.