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Iran nuclear talks: Foreign ministers gather in Geneva | Iran nuclear talks: Foreign ministers gather in Geneva |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The foreign ministers of six major powers are gathering in Geneva to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran. | The foreign ministers of six major powers are gathering in Geneva to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran. |
US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived for talks involving the UK, Russia, France, China and Germany after three days of lower-level meetings. | |
The ministers hope to close a deal for Iran to curb uranium enrichment in return for a loosening of sanctions. | |
But Iran insists it must be allowed to enrich uranium for power stations, and denies it is seeking nuclear weapons. | |
Some US politicians say they will push for more sanctions if the talks fail. | Some US politicians say they will push for more sanctions if the talks fail. |
'Complicated and tough' | |
Negotiators have been working since Wednesday to try to find an agreement that is acceptable to both sides. | |
The talks had been scheduled to conclude on Friday, but were extended amid hopes of a possible breakthrough. | |
The state department said Mr Kerry, who arrived in Geneva early on Saturday, had the goal of "continuing to help narrow the differences and move closer to an agreement". | |
Mr Kerry's participation in itself does not prove a deal is at hand, but it does show that the talks may have reached a critical stage, says the BBC's James Reynolds in Geneva. | Mr Kerry's participation in itself does not prove a deal is at hand, but it does show that the talks may have reached a critical stage, says the BBC's James Reynolds in Geneva. |
The other ministers from the so-called P5+1 group of nations were also arriving on Saturday. | |
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told reporters as he arrived: "I want a deal, but a solid deal, and I am here to work toward that end." | |
France has taken a harder line on Iran than other Western powers. | |
EU foreign policy chief Baroness Catherine Ashton is leading the conference. | EU foreign policy chief Baroness Catherine Ashton is leading the conference. |
On Friday she briefly met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif for a conversation that Iran's official Irna news agency described as "complicated and tough". | On Friday she briefly met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif for a conversation that Iran's official Irna news agency described as "complicated and tough". |
'Vigorous inspections' | |
The Geneva meeting follows a previous round of talks earlier this month. | The Geneva meeting follows a previous round of talks earlier this month. |
On that occasion, too, foreign ministers flew to Geneva to conclude the negotiations, but they went home empty-handed. | On that occasion, too, foreign ministers flew to Geneva to conclude the negotiations, but they went home empty-handed. |
Analysts say a major sticking point is Iran's insistence on its right to enrich uranium - a process that yields material used to manufacture fuel for power stations, but can also be used in weapons. | |
Western diplomats are also concerned about a reactor Iran is building at Arak - an issue which disrupted the first round of talks. | Western diplomats are also concerned about a reactor Iran is building at Arak - an issue which disrupted the first round of talks. |
US President Barack Obama has said any interim agreement would see the bulk of international and US sanctions remain, but that Iran would get sanctions relief worth between $6bn and $7bn. | |
The essence of the deal would involve Iran making no more advances in its nuclear programme and agreeing to "more vigorous inspections", he said. | The essence of the deal would involve Iran making no more advances in its nuclear programme and agreeing to "more vigorous inspections", he said. |