Iran hints at nuclear compromise ahead of key talks with world powers

At the core of the dispute is the issue of uranium enrichment. The West fears Tehran is seeking an atomic weapon, which the country denies. Uranium has to be enriched to more than 90 per cent to be used for a nuclear weapon.

Iran’s nuclear chief Fereidoun Abbasi said Tehran could stop its production of 20 per cent enriched uranium needed for a research reactor, and continue enriching uranium to lower levels for power generation.

He told state TV that this could take place once Iran has stockpiled enough of the 20 per cent enriched uranium. The negotiations are due to take place in Istanbul on Friday.

It was not immediately clear whether Mr Abbasi’s comments reflect what will be Tehran’s official stance when the negotiations begin in Istanbul more than 14 months after the last round collapsed.

Meanwhile, foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted on the Iranian parliament’s website as saying he hopes for some progress in the forthcoming talks.

“We will honestly try to have the two sides conclude with a win-win situation in which Iran achieves its rights while removing concerns of five-plus-one group,” he said.

Iran insists it has full rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty to enrich uranium to create nuclear fuel and says it only seeks enrichment levels to power reactors, but the US and others worry that the same process can be used to make weapons-grade material.

Ahead of Istanbul, there are signs Tehran is confident it may have beaten back the toughest Western demands for a complete halt to uranium enrichment and that some bargaining room has now been opened for new proposals.

Mr Abbasi’s remarks follow a boast last week from Iranian lawmaker Gholam Reza Mesbahi Moghadam, who claimed Tehran has the capability to produce a nuclear weapon but would never do so.

The US navy has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf amid rising tensions with Iran.