John Kerry looks for progress in Iran nuclear talks

TEHRAN,Feb.17(MNA) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he was looking for progress during upcoming P5+1 talks in Kazakhstan on Iran’s nuclear program, UPI reported on Friday. Kerry met in Washington with European foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. He said he looked forward to Ashton’s “critical effort” to avoid any sort of confrontation over Iran’s nuclear program. “We hope that the talks in Almaty in a few days can show some further progress, perhaps open some additional opportunities,” he said during a news conference. Ashton’s office in early February said Kazakhstan agreed to host talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, which Europe refers to as the E3+3. “I will go to Almaty to lead the discussions with Iran,” Ashton said. “I always look for success in those (negotiations).” Talks in Kazakhstan are scheduled for February 26. The United States and a number of its allies claim Iran may be trying to build a nuclear bomb. Iran says its nuclear program is meant only for peaceful civilian purposes.