Iran, world powers meeting on Islamic Republic’s nuclear program

(JTA) — Iran and six world powers are meeting in Kazakhstan for talks on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

The talks that began Tuesday are the first to be held in nearly eight months. The world powers are made up of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China — and Germany.

In advance of the meetings, the United States proposed an easing but not lifting of economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for greater transparency of its nuclear program.

Since the last talks, Iran reportedly has expanded its nuclear program and is believed to be closer than ever to building a nuclear bomb. Iran denies Western claims that it has a nuclear weapons program and says its nuclear plans are peaceful.