Iran: Nuclear plan ‘backed’ by 6 world powers

GENEVA: Iran's plan to cap some of the country's atomic activities in exchange for selective relief from crippling economic sanctions has been accepted by six world powers, the country's chief nuclear negotiator said on Thursday.

The upbeat comments from Abbas Araghchi, reported by Iranian state TV, suggest that negotiators in Geneva are moving from broad discussions over a nuclear deal to specific steps limiting Tehran's ability to make atomic weapons. In return, Iran would start getting relief from sanctions that have hit its economy hard. "Today, they clearly said that they accept the proposed framework by Iran," Araghchi said.

Though he described the negotiations as "very difficult," he said he expected agreement on details by Friday, the last scheduled round of the current talks.

International negotiators, representing the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, declined to comment on Araghchi's statement. The last round of talks three weeks ago reached agreement on a framework of possible discussion points.