Nuclear talks between Iran, world powers fail

European Union (EU) foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton arrives for a news conference to conclude two days of talks between Iran and six world powers in Istanbul on Saturday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

ISTANBUL - WORLD powers on Saturday failed to persuade Iran to take steps to ease suspicions over its nuclear programme as the defiant Islamic republic insisted on uranium enrichment.

The two-day talks in Istanbul between Iran and the six world powers ended without progress and no new meeting was scheduled to tackle concerns that Tehran is secretly developing an atomic bomb.

'We had hoped to embark on a discussion of practical ways forward, and have made every effort to make that happen. I am disappointed to say that this has not been possible,' EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told reporters.

Ms Ashton headed the delegation of the P5+1 group, comprised of Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany.

Iran had set the stage for fierce wrangling as soon as the meeting began on Friday, declaring that its sensitive uranium enrichment work was not up for debate.

The Istanbul gathering was the second between the two sides after talks resumed last month in Geneva, breaking a 14-month hiatus in diplomatic efforts to settle the dispute. -- AFP