Guarded Optimism Ahead of Global Summit on Iran

Iran is reportedly prepared to negotiate the terms of its nuclear program and trade agreements with six world powers during an international summit in Istanbul this weekend.

Reuters reports that Iranian senior officials have already begun talks with the United States., France, Russia, China, Britain and Germany regarding uranium, used for electric and nuclear power, and oil prices. After being slapped with economic sanctions for its secretive weapons program, Western diplomats hope Iran will be ready for cooperation.

While Iran said it would propose new ideas and be more flexible, the country’s English-language network Press TV quoted sources saying there were "few encouraging points" in the remarks from the American and British officials.

The Guardian reports that there are increasing signs from that Tehran will trade limits on its enrichment of uranium to release the pressure valve on the strict sanctions. Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, has held preliminary talks with Russian and Chinese diplomats, telling them he had come prepared for substantive negotiation.

"We want them to demonstrate, clearly, in the actions they propose that they have truly abandoned any nuclear weapons ambition," said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "Of course, in a negotiation, we understand that the Iranians will be asking for assurances or actions from us and we will certainly take those under consideration."