Iran upbeat on nuclear talks

• Tweet

TEHRAN, March 5 (UPI) -- Iran said recent negotiations in Kazakhstan produced a better sense of consensus than during previous efforts to break an impasse of Tehran's nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday that talking points from representatives from the five permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany were "more logical before," the semiofficial Fars News Agency reports.

"To reach a final understanding other measures might be needed but the new orientation of the P5+1 led the atmosphere toward a direction which made the proposals assessable," he said, providing few specifics.

He added that a reduction in sanctions would help move negotiations along.

His comments follow remarks made by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on U.S. foreign policy as it relates to Iran. Washington, he said, isn't bluffing when it says it would do whatever's necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"We are not looking for war," he said. "We are looking to and ready to negotiate peacefully, but all options, including military force, are on the table."

The International Atomic Energy Agency said it has been unable to determine the true intent of Iran's nuclear program.