World powers and Iran are holding a fresh round of talks on Tehran’s controversial nuclear program in Kazakhstan.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed “cautious optimism” ahead of the two-day meeting in Almaty, which started on April 5.

Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalil said the chances of a breakthrough hinge on the world powers recognizing Iran’s right to enrich uranium.

“We think our talks tomorrow can go forward with one word. That is the acceptance of the rights of Iran, particularly the right to [uranium] enrichment.”

Iranian media quoted deputy negotiator Ali Bagheri as saying in Almaty that Tehran would put its on suggestions on the table in Kazakhstan

The six powers — the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, the so-called 5+1 — are meeting with Iran for the second time in five weeks in Almaty.

At the first meeting in February, the 5+1 offered to lighten some economic sanctions on Iran if Tehran agreed to suspend higher-grade uranium production.

An Iranian diplomat told the ISNA news agency that the two sides agreed in February on a timetable of six months — leading up to Iran’s June 14 presidential election — to explore further steps.

Some analysts predict no breakthrough before that election.

Russia’s foreign ministry spokesman voiced skepticism on the eve of the start of the talks.

Alexander Lukashevich told reporters in Moscow that the negotiations have made little progress so far.

The talks come amid warnings from Israel that it could bomb Iranian nuclear installations if diplomacy and sanctions fail to curb Tehran’s nuclear progress.

Iran has denied it is secretly developing nuclear weapons as the West claims, and says its nuclear program is solely for energy generation and medical research.

Based on dpa and Reuters reporting
By RFE/RL