World powers and Iran started the second day of nuclear talks on Saturday with little hope of striking a quick deal in the long-standing dispute that threatens to erupt into war.

Negotiators failed to narrow their differences in talks on Friday, which followed a round of negotiations in February, also in Kazakhstan’s commercial hub, Almaty.

The six nations - the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany - suspect Iran’s nuclear programme has the covert aim of giving Tehran the capability to make an atom bomb.

The Islamic Republic denies it is seeking nuclear weapons and says it wants nuclear power for electricity generation and medical purposes.