There is prominent coverage this morning of talks between the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) and Iran over a proposed interim deal regarding Tehran’s nuclear programme, which resumed yesterday in Geneva. The Guardian online says there is cautious optimism among diplomats that an agreement can be reached, with preparations being made for foreign ministers to arrive on Friday to clinch a deal. However, the Telegraph quotes a United States official who said reaching agreement in the coming days will be hard. The Times, Independent, Independent i, Evening Standard and online editions of the Guardian and Telegraph all cover defiant public comments made yesterday by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who sharply criticised France and pledged that Tehran would not concede “one iota” over its nuclear ‘rights.’ The Financial Times online provides an overview of the talks and says that two particular sticking points are the Arak plutonium plant and Iran’s insistence on recognition of a permanent right to enrich uranium.

The Guardian says a legal challenge is being made in Israel’s courts to a government plan to stop issuing birth certificates for children of foreigners. The proposed measure would appear to be an attempt to make it more difficult for illegal migrants to claim extended residency in the country.

The Telegraph and Guardian report that a British man from West London has been killed while fighting with Islamist opposition forces in Syria, during an offensive against President Assad’s forces in August. Both articles report that the suspected jihadist was jailed in the UK for eighteen months in 2010, following participation in a violent protest outside the Israeli Embassy in London in 2009. The Times and Daily Mail say that in addition to the man in question, three additional British men have been killed fighting in Syria in recent months.

The Independent, Telegraph, Independent i and online edition of the Financial Times report that a suicide bomb attack in the Sinai Peninsula has killed 11 Egyptian soldiers. In recent months, Egypt’s military rulers have cracked down on Islamists who have used Sinai, which borders Israel, as a launching pad for attacking Egyptian security forces.

The nuclear talks in Geneva are covered prominently in the Israeli media this morning. Haaretz says there is optimism among diplomats that an agreement will be reached, while Maariv suggests that there are still divisions among the P5+1 powers over the wording of an accord. Israel Radio news quotes a United States official saying that reaching an agreement will be very difficult. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin yesterday in Moscow is also widely reported. Makor Rishon says that Netanyahu assured Putin he wants to see a diplomatic resolution to the impasse over Iran’s nuclear development. However, commentators including Shimon Shiffer in Yediot Ahronot and Ben Caspit say Netanyahu has ultimately failed to win the latest diplomatic battle over Iran, in part because he isn’t trusted by world leaders.

The main item in the Israeli media this morning is the arrest of top Israeli singer and celebrity Eyal Golan, who is accused of statutory rape of a 15 year old. Golan was released to house arrest in a case involving several other people, including his father. The story is covered in all dailies, dominating the first nine pages of Israel Hayom and it is the lead story in Yediot Ahronot.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party leadership election which takes place today is covered by Haaretz, Makor Rishon, Israel Hayom and Israel Radio news. Current leader Shelly Yachimovich is being challenged by former minister Isaac Herzog, polls indicate that Yachimovich will retain the leadership.