VIENNA - Iran and six world powers beganexpert-level talks on Monday to work out nitty gritty details inimplementing a landmark accord for Tehran to curb its disputednuclear program in return for a limited easing of sanctions.
The preliminary accord is seen as a first step towardsresolving a decade-old standoff over suspicions Iran might becovertly pursuing a nuclear weapons "breakout" capability, aperception that has raised the risk of a wider Middle East war.
Officials from Iran and the United States, France, Germany,Britain, China and Russia met at the Vienna headquarters of theUN nuclear agency, which will play a central role in verifyingthat Tehran carries out its part of the interim deal.
The outcome of the meeting is expected to determine whenIran stops its most sensitive nuclear activity and when it getsthe respite in sanctions that it has been promised in return.