TEHRAN, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iranian officials have expressed optimism about the outcome of the two-day nuclear talks which concluded on Wednesday in Almaty of Kazakhstan, Iranian media reported Thursday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said it seemed that the talks between Iran and the P5+1 powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States plus Germany, on the nuclear issue were in the "right direction," Tehran Times daily reported on Thursday.
Salehi expressed optimism about an agreement that could be reached with six world powers on Iran's nuclear program in the future.
"From the latest information I received, I'm happy to say that the outcome of the meeting was positive. It has been put on the right track and it is moving in the right direction and that is important," Salehi was quoted as saying by Press TV.
"I would say things are taking a turning point and I think the Almaty meeting will be a milestone," said the Iranian foreign minister in Vienna on Wednesday, adding that the process that has started would eventually produce an outcome that will be "in the benefit of both sides."
Also, Iran's Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani described the talks as "positive," Iranian Majlis website reported.
Larijani, currently on an Indian trip, made the remarks in a meeting with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday, the report said.
Alluding to the "positive" outcome of the Almaty talks, Larijani said "We have presented different packages of proposals in the nuclear negotiations" and it seemed that there were " progresses" in the course of the recent talks, according to the report.
"Iran will never move in the course of (acquiring) nuclear weapons," he said, adding that "Iran's supreme leader has issued a decree against building (and the use) of nuclear weapons and even we suggested the decree be documented in the United Nations."
On Wednesday, Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili expressed optimism as well about the outcome of the two-day talks, saying that the world powers' attitude toward Iran's nuclear issue was "more realistic."
Making the remarks after the meeting in Almaty, Jalili said some of the West's offers, including the easing of sanctions "were more realistic comparing to what they had in the past."
In the talks, Iran urged that the steps to build confidence of both sides should be taken simultaneously and in a balanced way, so that the Iran's nuclear rights could be preserved, he said.
An expert-level meeting was decided to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 17-18, he said, adding that another high-ranking meeting will be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, again on April 5.
Jalili noted that continuation of the talks will be "a positive step" toward resolving the differences.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department on Wednesday welcomed that Iran was interested in the proposal presented by the world powers at the nuclear talks in Kazakhstan.
"The process will continue, we have to see how it's gong to play out over the coming weeks, but we welcome that, you know, Iran was interested in our ideas," said State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell at a regular briefing.
However, he did not give details of the proposal, only characterizing it as "updated" and "serious."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday stressed that Iran should gain the confidence of the international community over its disputed nuclear program.
ALMATY, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran and world powers have agreed to meet again over its disputed nuclear program after two days of negotiations in Kazakhstan that Tehran praised as "more realistic."
Though the agreement on new talks suggested potential for advancement, rapid progress in solving the decade-long nuclear stalemate is not in sight. That's because of huge rifts between the two sides and Iran's presidential election, due in June, experts say. Full story
TEHRAN, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said it seemed that the talks between Iran and world powers on the nuclear issue were in "right direction," Iranian media reported on Thursday.
Quoting Salehi as saying, Tehran Times daily reported that Salehi expressed optimism about an agreement that could be reached with six world powers on Iran's nuclear program in future. Full story
TEHRAN, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili expressed optimism Wednesday about the outcome of the two-day nuclear talks, saying that the world powers' attitude toward Iran's nuclear issue was "more realistic."
The two-day talks between Iran and the P5+1 powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States plus Germany, over Iran's disputed nuclear program concluded on Wednesday in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Full story
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