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Iran 'attitude shift over nukes'

Non-Aligned Movement repeats demand that Israel Join the Non-Proliferation Treaty

US and European diplomats have claimed that they had detected a "significant shift" in Iran's attitude at talks on resolving the impasse over Tehran's disputed nuclear activities.

Iran said it was eager to dispel the notion that it is trying to develop a nuclear weapon and to get international sanctions lifted as fast as possible.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif shook hands and sat next to each other at the meeting with five other world powers.

Mr Kerry leaned over to Mr Zarif as the meeting ended and said: "Shall we talk for a few minutes?"

They then had an unexpected one-to-one meeting - the highest level contact between the countries in six years.

Mr Zarif said the meeting with the five permanent UN security council members and Germany agreed to fast-track negotiations.

He said that Iran hopes they can reach a deal within a year.

Mr Zarif said the end result would have to include "a total lifting" of international sanctions.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, speaking at the first-ever meeting of a UN forum on nuclear disarmament on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, repeated the organisation's longstanding demand that Israel joins the international treaty banning the spread of nuclear weapons.

Israel is the only Middle Eastern state not to sign the 1979 Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Mr Rouhani said: "The indefinite possession of nuclear weapons cannot be tolerated nor can their complete elimination be further delayed."

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