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for diplomacy is cracking open," Obama "means what he says" when he vows not to allow Tehran to progress to such weapons.
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Participants and their positions at this week's nuclear talks in Geneva
• The five permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany meet Iran in Geneva on Tuesday and Wednesday to try to reduce concerns that Tehran wants to build nuclear weapons while satisfying Iran's demands to recognize its right to peaceful nuclear activities. A look at the players, the talks and the issues:
• THE PLAYERS
• Meeting Iran's negotiating team are delegations from the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. The six nations are commonly known as the P5+1 because they group the five permanent members of the Security Council along with Germany. European nations in the group prefer the designation E3+3.
• The P5+1 delegations are headed by political directors or their equivalents who answer directly to their nations' foreign ministers. Iran's team will be led by Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. But except for the opening session, the main Iranian negotiator will be a deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi.
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Hopes for progress high as US, partners meet with Iran this week over its nuclear program
• VIENNA (AP) -- Don't expect a breakthrough -- but the chances for progress have seldom been better. This is the message coming from Iran and six world powers ahead of renewed talks this week meant to end a decade of deadlock on Tehran's nuclear program.
• The two sides come to the negotiating table in Geneva on Tuesday and Wednesday amid a feel-good atmosphere that began with the June election of centrist Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Subsequent conciliatory comments by Iranian officials were capped last month by a phone call between Rouhani and President Barack Obama -- the first conversation between U.S. and Iranian leaders in more than three decades.
• Iran insists it does not want nuclear weapons. But building on the momentum of that telephone call, Iranian officials from Rouhani down say their country is ready to meet some international demands to reduce its nuclear activities.
• If so, the talks -- including the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Ger (Continued on page 29)
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