Iran Nuke Talks End; New Round Set For 2011

Nuclear negotiators say talks between Iran and six world powers have ended and a new round is planned early next year in Turkey.

Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili says he expects those talks to be held in Istanbul. Other officials from delegations in the talks confirm those plans and say they will take place in late January or early February.

The officials asked for anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. All spoke after the end of two days of talks between Iran and the six powers that focused mainly on general terms of setting up new nuclear negotiations.

Last Monday Iran and six world powers haggled over the terms of negotiations that the West hopes will limit Iranian nuclear activities that could be used to make atomic weapons.

The meeting in Geneva - their first in a year - showed both sides were at least willing to listen, even though they may remain far apart on how deeply the talks should tackle concerns about Iranian nuclear activities.

Several officials from the six powers at the meeting - the U.S., Russia, Britain, France, Germany and the European Union - said the Iranian delegation had reacted calmly when told the group was still seeking a commitment from Tehran to stop uranium enrichment, which can make both fuel for reactors and the fissile core of nuclear arms.

Iran has insisted previously that the topic of enrichment was not up for negotiation.