Day one of Iran atomic talks wraps up in Kazakhstan

    The first session of nuclear talks between Iran and a group of six international mediators has wrapped up in Kazakhstan’s Almaty.
    None of the participants has commented on the outcome of this breakthrough meeting, which followed an eight-month stall in the nuclear stand-off. It remains to be seen whether the meeting will continue later today.
    Michael Mann, spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said at a press briefing earlier today that this round of talks would last for two days.
    Iran may halt 20% uranium enrichment if sanctions are lifted
    Iran has agreed to consider dropping its uranium enrichment program if the UN lifts sanctions against the Islamic Republic, media have cited a source close to Iranian delegation involved in P5+1 nuclear talks.
    According to the source, Iran is willing to halt enriching uranium to 20% if the world community and the United Nations agree to scrap sanctions against Tehran
    International mediators have prepared a package of new offers to Tehran to try to reach a breakthrough in the stalled nuclear stand-off.
    “We have prepared a good and updated offer for the talks, which we believe is balanced and a fair basis for constructive talks," said Michael Mann, spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
    He said the fresh offer would be more responsive to Iranian ideas. According to Mr. Mann, the EU may revise sanctions against Tehran based on its willingness to talk.
    The talks have resumed after an eight-month hiatus and are to last two days. The most recent negotiations between P5+1 and Tehran ran off in June 2012 in Moscow and lasted for two days. This time, the talks can last even longer since diplomats claimed they were intent on going the extra mile.
    The Iranian delegation is headed by the country’s National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili, while Russia is represented by Sergei Ryabkov and the US by Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman. The meeting with also be attended by EU’s High Representative Catherine Ashton.
    “The world needs to know Iranian nukes are peaceful," – Moscow
    The world needs to see that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful to discuss any weakening of the sanctions, Russia’s Deputy FM Sergey Ryabkov stated in Kazakhstan’s capital of Almaty Monday in the run-up to the Tuesday Big Six talks with Tehran.
    The diplomat urged Tehran to be more cooperative and expressed hope that the talks will result in a deal.
    Earlier, a US official claimed that the Big Six will offer Iran a swap – milder sanctions for nuclear concessions, according to Voice of Russia, Ria-Novosti, and Itarr-TASS