2011-01-21 17:22

ISTANBUL - Iran began talks on Friday with six world powers trying to persuade it to rein in its nuclear programme, but there were few expectations of major progress, Western diplomats attending the talks in Istanbul said.

Western countries believe Iran is working to develop a nuclear bomb. Tehran says its nuclear programme is peaceful. Friday's talks in Istanbul are a follow-up to talks last month in Geneva, which were the first held in more than a year.

"No one is expecting any big breakthrough, but Iran needs to show that it is interested in engaging in a wider process," said one diplomat. "There are fundamental issues Iran needs to address and those are pretty clear, but no one's expecting any great shift.