TEHRAN, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran and six world powers announced Tuesday that they reviewed details of proposals by both sides on Iran's nuclear program in their latest meeting in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council said in a statement that the Iranian experts and the P5+1 group (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) discussed various aspects of proposals presented by the two sides during the recent talks in Russia's Moscow and Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The results, achieved Monday in Istanbul, will be presented at the next round of talks in Almaty on April 5-6, said the statement without further elaboration.
Also on Tuesday, Michael Mann, the spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said in a statement during the Istanbul talks, the P5+1 experts provided Iran with further details of the "revised confidence-building proposal."
On Sunday, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told semi-official Fars news agency that the success of the Istanbul talks between Iran and the P5+1 depends on the two sides' mutual steps.
"The negotiations should progress toward recognizing our country's peaceful nuclear rights and obviate the concerns of the other side too," said Mehmanparast, adding that the last round of talks between Iran and the world powers in Almaty was a positive step forward and the trend should continue in the upcoming negotiations.
Following the February nuclear talks in Almaty, both sides expressed optimism about the outcome of the talks and agreed to attend an expert-level talks on March 18 in Istanbul, followed by another high-ranking meeting in Almaty again in April.
U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday challenged the Iranian leaders to take "immediate and meaningful steps" now to reduce tensions over its controversial nuclear program.
Obama said that "serious and sustained effort" is needed to resolve many differences between Iran and the United States.
"Now is the time for the Iranian government to take immediate and meaningful steps to reduce tensions and work toward an enduring, long-term settlement of the nuclear issue," said the U.S. president.
"Whereas if the Iranian government continues down its current path, it will only further isolate Iran," he warned.
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