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TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's president described talks with world powers on the country's disputed nuclear program as a step forward, the official IRNA news agency said on Sunday.

At Saturday's meeting in Geneva, the six major powers gave Iran two weeks to answer calls to rein in its nuclear activities or face tougher sanctions after talks ended in stalemate despite unprecedented U.S. participation.

Prospects of ending the row looked dim as Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili insisted Tehran would not even discuss a demand to freeze sensitive atomic work the West fears is aimed at making bombs at the next meeting.

But Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave an upbeat assessment. "Any negotiation that takes place is a step forward," he told reporters, according to IRNA.