Two days of talks in the Iraqi capital dash initial hopes for a deal. The end of Iran's nuclear programme and UN sanctions were the main topics. A new round is set for 18 June in Moscow. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain continue union discussions against Iran.

Baghdad (AsiaNews/ Agencies) - Participants in talks on Iran's nuclear programme and international sanctions agreed to another round in Moscow but nothing more. Two days of negotiations in Baghdad between Iran and the 5+1 group (UN Security Council members United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, plus Germany) to avoid a showdown with Tehran proved a disappointment to much of public opinion.

Chief Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili called the talks "thorough but unfinished." He said Iran was not prepared to make any concessions unless the six nations accept "the undeniable right of the Iranian nation. . . to enrich uranium." Jalili also made it clear that Iran would not countenance a deal that did not lift the sanctions that have been taking an increasingly devastating toll on the country's economy.

He did concede, however, that it is open to negotiations about the level to which it will continue to enrich uranium. Iran has the capacity to enrich uranium up to 20 per cent. The technical level required for the fissile material used in nuclear weapons is 85 per cent.

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said the six world powers had put forward proposals concerning "what could be done around the 20 per cent" enrichment level, suggesting that the issue could be addressed further at the Moscow talks, scheduled for 18-19 June.

Ashton acknowledged that "significant differences" remain over how to address international concerns about Iran's nuclear activities. However, she said there was "some common ground" and took heart that Iran had agreed to further talks.

The 5+1 group want to include Iran's enrichment programme in an agreement that is transparent and verifiable that would see Iran stop enrich uranium to 20 per cent in exchange of fuel for "peaceful" reactors.

Tehran's top priority is to end sanctions that have isolated the country and strangled its economy.

Experts believe a quick agreement is essential to reduce tensions between Iran, Israel and its allies.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak stressed that the agreement reached on Tuesday between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on nuclear sites inspections does not rule out a possible attack.

For its part, Saudi Arabia, Washington's main anti-Iran bulwark, is trying to extend its hegemony in the Arabian Peninsula to counter Tehran.

Recently, it has proposed a new union modelled on the European Union that would include Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, i.e. the member of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The first state to embrace the proposal is Bahrain. That is no an accident since the country's Sunni-controlled government has been involved in a major crackdown against its Shia majority.

For more than year, Shias have called for democracy but have been accused of being pro-Iran, with the West just looking on.

After failing to stop the Formula One Grand Prix some weeks ago, thousands of people are back in the streets to protest any union with Saudi Arabia.

Today, a court in Bahrain sentenced Zainab al-Khawaja, daughter of famous dissident Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, to a month in prison for organising a protest against the government.

Her father was among the first to denounce the regime's anti-Shia abuses. He was jailed last year. In January, he started a hunger strike that lasted three months.

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Highly enriched uranium is considered weapons-grade when it has been enriched to about 85 per cent U-235. However, to build "dirty" (radiological) bombs, uranium enriched to 20 per cent is enough.

• iran
• 5+1
• nuclear
• programme
• baghdad
• moscow
• talks