Iranian FM views almaty II talks with world powers as positive

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast described the latest round of talks with the world powers in Kazakhstan as "positive", and said Tehran is waiting for the opposite side's response to its proposals."The two sides' comments described as positive the start of straightforward and serious expression of views, and to take a correct step, our officials expressed their views and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) should now respond," Mehman-Parast said at a weekly press conference in Tehran on Tuesday."We are (now) waiting for Mrs. Ashton's response and her consultations with the G5+1," he added.Mehman-Parast said that it is now the world powers' turn to adopt confidence-building measures and show their sincerity and resolve to continue talks with Iran.Earlier, Iran's lead negotiator Saeed Jalili also described the latest round of talks with the world powers in Kazakhstan as "good", and said the two sides still need to work out solutions to narrow down their gap."We presented a comprehensive plan 10 months ago and Iran presented its plan of action for the Moscow proposals in this round. This plan of action was a revised version of the proposal that the Group 5+1 presented in Almaty 1 (on February 26-27) and contained the considerations raised during the experts meeting (in Istanbul from March 17 to 18)," Jalili told reporters after four rounds of talks with the representatives of the six world powers in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Friday and Saturday."A part of these initiatives of ours came in response to the 5+1's Almaty 1 proposals which had the capacity for change (to move) ahead," he added.He said that the two sides had detailed discussions over the operational aspects of Iran's proposal, and that his team provided detailed answers to the world powers' ambiguities and questions.Yet, the Iranian chief negotiator said "the two sides' views are away from each other".Jalili reiterated Iran's legitimate rights, including the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, and underlined that Iran welcomes talks for cooperation.He urged the six world powers to build Iran's confidence, and said that "recognition of the enrichment right (of Iran) and putting an end to hostile behaviors towards the Iranian nation" are the way to build Tehran's confidence.In this regard, he said, the 5+1 representatives raised their government's views and asked for further assessment of Iran's new initiatives."Ms. Ashton is due to meet the foreign ministers of the 6 countries to discuss how the trend of the talks should be moved ahead and will then have a phone contact with me," Jalili added.He said "the talks were good" and described Iran's new proposals as a test of the world powers' honesty about confidence building.Iran and the six world powers wrapped up their 4th round of talks in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Saturday after they agreed to continue the negotiations through their deputy chief negotiators.