Russia's Putin hopes for positive result on Iran

BAKU, Feb 22 (Reuters) President Vladimir Putin today said Russia was counting on being able to reach a positive result over the Iranian nuclear issue.

''The negotiations are not easy but we are counting reaching a positive result,'' Putin said in the Azerbaijan capital Baku.

''We are not losing optimism,'' he said referring to talks in Moscow on Monday and Tuesday with Iranian officials over a Russian proposal aimed at easing suspicions that Tehran is seeking to build an atomic weapon.

REUTERS SHR KN1653