Iran upbeat about nuclear talks

Iran and six world powers are in “50 to 60% agreement” on the shape of a nuclear deal meant to crimp any potential Iranian attempt to build nuclear arms in exchange for an end to crippling economic sanctions, the country’s foreign minister said.

Speaking for the six, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton was less upbeat as the talks reached the half-way mark toward their informal July deadline. But she said that after several rounds of exploratory talks the two sides were now ready to bridge remaining gaps standing in the way of agreement.