Iran nuclear crisis: New talks to open in Kazakhstan

A new round of talks between world powers and Iran over its controversial nuclear programme are set to open in the Kazakh city of Almaty.

The discussions on Tuesday are the first since talks in June 2012 ended without a breakthrough.

Negotiators from Iran will meet counterparts from the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - the P5+1.

International powers suspect Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons - a charge Iran strongly denies.

Iran insists its purposes are purely civilian, asserting it needs enriched uranium to make medical isotopes.

Since 2010, Iran has been enriching uranium to a level of 20%, an important technological step towards being able to produce more highly enriched weapons-grade material.

The talks are taking place against a background of Israeli warnings that it will stop Iran's programme militarily if other means fail.

Speaking in London on Monday, new US Secretary of State John Kerry said time for a diplomatic solution was running short.

"The window for a diplomatic solution simply cannot by definition remain open forever. But it is open today. It is open now," he said.

"There is still time but there is only time if Iran makes the decision to come to the table and negotiate in good faith."