World powers will meet with Iran’s representatives on Tuesday in Geneva.  It’s hoped that President Hassan Rouhani’s appearance of moderation will carry over to talks on resolving concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.

Israel, the United States, and other western powers believe Iran is seeking to build its own nuclear weapons.  Tehran has repeatedly denied this and says its nuclear program is for energy and medical research.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has taken over as Iran’s lead negotiator with the so-called P5+1 group of Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany.  But so far he has been tight-lipped about what Iran is prepared to offer in exchange for relief from EU and US sanctions which have badly hit Iran’s oil exports and its access to global banking.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has branded nuclear proliferation and possession of the bomb a “sin” against Islam; but there’s decades of mistrust on each side to overcome.

And there are positions that appear to be entrenched.  Abbas Araqchi of Iran’s foreign ministry told state TV, “We will not surrender or suspend uranium enrichment in any situation.  We will not allow even a gram of uranium to go out of the country.”