Representatives of Iran and the Group 5+1 world powers started Friday a fresh round of talks in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili headed the Islamic Republic's negotiating delegation while the G5+1's representatives are led by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Hours earlier, Jalili told the six world powers that Tehran demanded an immediate recognition of his country's right to enrich uranium.

"We think that they can open up Friday's talks with one phrase -- and that is to accept Iran's right, particularly its right to enrich," Jalili said in a speech Thursday at an Almaty university.

"We hope that in Almaty, they do not repeat the bitter experience they have gone through in the 34 years of our revolution and that they make the right conclusion this spring," he said referring to the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the shah.

He further questioned: "Why the global issues should be discussed in New York, Geneva or Vienna,", adding that Iran believes that other venues with very rich historical backgrounds such as Istanbul, Baghdad and Almaty should be also taken into consideration for discussing global developments."

The Iranian official also downplayed the chances of his one-on-one meeting with chief US negotiator Wendy Sherman.

"What our nation is expecting is for the US to correct its behavior, and not in just words, and tomorrow in Almaty they are in for another test," said Jalili, and noted: "Iran stood up to their hegemony and they imposed a devastating war and tough economic sanctions against the country."

In parallel, his deputy Ali Bagheri promised a real effort from Iran to find a workable solution in Kazakhstan.

"We are entering the talks with specific and path-clearing proposals," he told reporters.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org