World powers, Iran begin nuclear talks

United States, Russia, China, Britain, Germany and France begin negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme and are expected to offer it some relief from sanctions.

World powers began talks with Iran on its nuclear programme in the Kazakh city of Almaty on Tuesday, in a fresh attempt to resolve a decade-old standoff that threatens the Middle East with a new war.

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It is "not clear how long the session will go, (we) will advise as we go," said the Western official, confirming the start of the talks at the Rixos hotel in the city

The six - United States, Russia, China, Britain, Germany and France - are expected to offer Tehran some sanctions relief if it curbs work which they suspect is intended to produce material for nuclear weapons, although Iran denies this.

No breakthrough is expected at the talks, the first such meeting in eight months, but diplomats hope for an agreement to hold further talks soon on how to implement steps to ease the tension.

(With inputs from AFP)