Almaty nuclear talks filled with Iran's optimism, western concerns and rumors of direct bilateral meeting with US

On February 13, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said that he sees bright prospects for the Iran-P5+1 (or E3+3) nuclear talks in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and which started on February 26, eight months after the previous ones.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said "political will" from both sides is needed in order to "stop wasting any more time," and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili hoped the P5+1 group will bring "new strategy and valid proposals."

Despite Iran's optimism, France and Israel have already expressed concerns over the advances of Tehran's nuclear program. Both countries rejected the remarks of Iranian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali-Asghar Soltanieh who affirmed the latest IAEA report confirmed "there is no diversion (of the uranium enrichment program) toward military purposes."

Meanwhile, there have been growing rumors in Washington D.C. which said US officials could "meet bilaterally with the Iranian side." And with two main objectives in sight according to DiploNews: assessing more precisely at what stage is Iran's nuclear program and convince Tehran its current policy could likely lead to the "military option" with unpredictable consequences.

In addition, the P5+1 group may extend an offer to ease "gold, petrochemicals banking sanctions" in exchange for real efforts on behalf of Iran, said PressTV.

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