(24 May 2012) Iran and six world powers wrapped up talks on Thursday still with differing opinions over how to oversee Tehran's atomic programme.
But both parties demonstrated the resolve to keep dialogue going as an alternative to possible military action.
Envoys said they will meet again on 18-19 June in Moscow after negotiations stretched out for extra hours and a sandstorm shut the airport in Iraq's capital.
But the two sides agreed on little else during two days of discussions that highlighted the serious challenges of reaching accords between Iran and the West.
"It is clear that we both want to make progress, and that there is some common ground," European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who is formally leading the talks, told reporters.
"However, significant differences remain. Nonetheless, we do agree on the need for further discussion to expand that common ground," she added.
Saeed Jalili, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, offered a lukewarm assessment of what the negotiations achieved, in light of European and American refusal to lift tough sanctions as Tehran had hoped.
"The result of the talks was that we were able to get more familiar with each other's views," Jalili said at a media conference after Ashton left.
The Baghdad discussions began with hopes for progress before each side accused the other of failing to offer meaningful, realistic proposals.
More tellingly, they also showed that US diplomats and others are pressing neither for quick deals nor for ultimatums that could derail the sensitive talks.
The tempered approach offers insights into shifting American priorities over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
The US has gradually moved off its demands for an immediate and complete halt to Iran's ability to make nuclear fuel, which the West and allies fear could someday provide the foundations of warhead-grade material.
Iran denies it seeks atomic arms.
Instead, the Baghdad talks unveiled a Western-backed incentive package that seeks to end Iran's highest-level uranium enrichment as a first step.
That leaves open speculation that Washington could ultimately accept Iran's demand to keep its enrichment labs in operation - although possibly at reduced levels to produce lower-grade fuel suitable for its lone
power-generating reactor.
Such a compromise would likely require Iran to reciprocate with moves such as allowing greater U.N. nuclear inspections and suspending work at a bunker-like enrichment site south of Tehran.
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