Iran nuclear talks end; next meeting planned for Moscow

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Talks between Iran and world powers over Iran’s disputed nuclear program ended Thursday with little more than an agreement to meet again next month in Moscow, according to news reports. The Baghdad talks were marred by disagreements over whether to lift existing sanctions on Iran and other issues.

“It is clear that we both want to make progress and that there is some common ground,” European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told reporters. “However, significant differences remain. Nonetheless, we do agree on the need for further discussion to expand that common ground.”

An Iranian delegation member said earlier Thursday that world powers had failed to properly respond to Iran’s proposals, and had raised questions about whether another meeting would be scheduled at all.

The June 18-19 Moscow meeting relieves fears that talks would stop altogether.

Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, but Western powers believe it is trying to gain the capacity to make a nuclear weapon. The U.S. and Israel have warned they may strike militarily if there aren’t clear assurances that Iran isn’t trying to make a bomb.

Despite the halting progress, there are still hopes for the next round of talks. “An initial confidence-building deal is still within reach if both sides show some flexibility,” Arms Control Assn. Director Daryl Kimball told Bloomberg News.

ALSO:

Hope fades for quick progress in Iran nuclear talks

Iran presses world powers for response to its nuclear proposal

Iran counters Western offer on nuke inspections, news agency says

-- Emily Alpert in Los Angeles