DHAKA: World powers will hold fresh talks with Iran on its nuclear programme on Tuesday, amid raised hopes of a less hardline approach from the Islamic republic’s new president.

The two-day meeting in Geneva will be the first such negotiations since president Hassan Rouhani, a reputed moderate, took office in August.

He has pledged to engage the world constructively and to resolve the decade-long showdown on Iran’s controversial atomic ambitions, reports The Straits Times.

Western powers and Israel suspect Teheran is developing a nuclear military capability, a claim repeatedly denied by the Iranian leadership.

BDST: 1620 HRS, OCT 13, 2013
RoR/RIS