Kerry sees diplomatic solution to Iran crisis

US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday insisted there was a "diplomatic path" to be forged with Iran on its disputed nuclear programme, as world powers and Tehran held crunch talks.
"There is a diplomatic path," said Kerry after meeting his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle in Berlin. He expressed his "hope" that "Iran itself will make its choice to move down the path of a diplomatic solution."
Iran said it was prepared to make an offer to major powers in talks on its nuclear programme, after the United States proposed limited sanctions relief in return for a halt to the most controversial work.
The first meeting in eight months between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany - the "P5+1" - aims to resolve a dispute that threatens to trigger another war in the Middle East.
The negotiations in the city of Almaty - which follow inconclusive meetings last year in Istanbul, Baghdad and Moscow - were expected to run through Tuesday and Wednesday. But with the Islamic Republic's political elite preoccupied with worsening infighting before a presidential election in June, few believe the meeting will yield a quick breakthrough.