Second round of Iran talks begins on optimistic note

Iran and six world powers faced a tough task at the negotiating table in Geneva Thursday: moving from broad discussions about a nuclear deal to specific steps limiting Tehran's ability to enrich uranium in exchange for relief from sanctions that are crippling the Iranian economy.

The last round of talks, three weeks ago, produced an agreement on a framework for possible discussion points. The two sides kicked off the two-day round focused on getting to a "first step." That is described by Western negotiators as an initial curb on uranium enrichment and other activities.

Iran says its nuclear activities are for peaceful energy needs and that it is not seeking nuclear weapons, but skeptics in the West are concerned about the clandestine nature of the country's program and worry that current progress could morph into a full-on push for weapons production. 

The initial encounter Thursday broke about an hour after it began, possibly to allow consideration of ideas presented by the two sides. European Union spokesman Michael Mann called it a "good opening session."

The previous round had been described by both sides as promising, while falling short of advancing either Iran's or the six powers' concrete demands.

Before Thursday's talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with top EU diplomat Catherine Ashton, who is convening the meeting, in what Mann described as good discussions. He said the two agreed to meet again in the afternoon.

Asked afterward about the chances of agreement on initial steps this week, Zarif told reporters, "If everyone tries their best, we may have one."

After nearly a decade of deadlock, Iran seems more amenable to making concessions to the six countries: the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. New reformist President Hassan Rouhani has indicated he could cut back on the nuclear program in exchange for an easing of sanctions.

But factions in both Iran and the United States are demanding that their own interests be met first — and fast. Iranian hard-liners want comprehensive sanctions reductions in exchange for scaling back on enrichment, while some U.S. lawmakers want the enrichment to stop altogether in exchange for loosening sanctions.

Officials from two of the delegations negotiating with the Iranians said the sanctions relief on offer will be limited and is unlikely to affect the core sanctions on Iran's oil and finance sectors unless Tehran makes sweeping concessions, which it is unlikely to do at this meeting.

The negotiators might also test Iran's commitment by waiting — possibly for as long as six months — after an agreement before applying sanctions relief. And the sanctions could be reapplied easily should Iran renege on commitments it makes in Geneva.

Al Jazeera and The Associated Press