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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Iran nuclear talks: Kerry to join foreign ministers in Geneva | Iran nuclear talks: Kerry to join foreign ministers in Geneva |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry is heading to Geneva to help negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran. | US Secretary of State John Kerry is heading to Geneva to help negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran. |
| The foreign ministers of the UK, France and Germany are also on their way there, amid hopes of an agreement that would see Iran curb uranium enrichment in return for a loosening of sanctions. | |
| The foreign ministers of Russia and Iran are already at the Geneva conference, which began on Wednesday. | The foreign ministers of Russia and Iran are already at the Geneva conference, which began on Wednesday. |
| Some US lawmakers say they will push for more sanctions if the talks fail. | Some US lawmakers say they will push for more sanctions if the talks fail. |
| Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but some world powers suspect it is seeking a nuclear weapons capability. | Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but some world powers suspect it is seeking a nuclear weapons capability. |
| Talks extended? | Talks extended? |
| Negotiators have been working since Wednesday to try to find an agreement which is acceptable to Iran and its P5+1 negotiating partners - made up of the US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany. | Negotiators have been working since Wednesday to try to find an agreement which is acceptable to Iran and its P5+1 negotiating partners - made up of the US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany. |
| The talks had been scheduled to conclude on Friday, but they now look likely to continue into the weekend. | The talks had been scheduled to conclude on Friday, but they now look likely to continue into the weekend. |
| State department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Mr Kerry would arrive in Geneva early on Saturday, "with the goal of continuing to help narrow the differences and move closer to an agreement". | State department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Mr Kerry would arrive in Geneva early on Saturday, "with the goal of continuing to help narrow the differences and move closer to an agreement". |
| Mr Kerry's participation in itself does not prove a deal is at at hand, but it does show that the talks may have reached a critical stage, says the BBC's James Reynolds in Geneva. | Mr Kerry's participation in itself does not prove a deal is at at hand, but it does show that the talks may have reached a critical stage, says the BBC's James Reynolds in Geneva. |
| Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague will also arrive on Saturday, as will his French and German counterparts, Laurent Fabius and Guido Westerwelle. | |
| France has taken a harder line on Iran than other Western powers, encouraging its negotiating partners not to make too many compromises. | France has taken a harder line on Iran than other Western powers, encouraging its negotiating partners not to make too many compromises. |
| EU foreign policy chief Baroness Catherine Ashton is leading the conference. | EU foreign policy chief Baroness Catherine Ashton is leading the conference. |
| On Friday she briefly met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif for a conversation which Iran's official Irna news agency described as "complicated and tough". | On Friday she briefly met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif for a conversation which Iran's official Irna news agency described as "complicated and tough". |
| 'Very hard' | 'Very hard' |
| The Geneva meeting follows a previous round of talks earlier this month. | The Geneva meeting follows a previous round of talks earlier this month. |
| On that occasion, too, foreign ministers flew to Geneva to conclude the negotiations, but they went home empty-handed. | On that occasion, too, foreign ministers flew to Geneva to conclude the negotiations, but they went home empty-handed. |
| Analysts say a major sticking point is Iran's insistence on its right to enrich uranium - a process that yields material used to manufacture fuel for power stations, but can also be used to make weapons. | Analysts say a major sticking point is Iran's insistence on its right to enrich uranium - a process that yields material used to manufacture fuel for power stations, but can also be used to make weapons. |
| Western diplomats are also concerned about a reactor Iran is building at Arak - an issue which disrupted the first round of talks. | Western diplomats are also concerned about a reactor Iran is building at Arak - an issue which disrupted the first round of talks. |
| US politicians have indicated they will push forward with a bill proposing more sanctions against Iran next month if the talks fail. | US politicians have indicated they will push forward with a bill proposing more sanctions against Iran next month if the talks fail. |
| US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would support "broadening the scope" of current oil and trade sanctions. | US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would support "broadening the scope" of current oil and trade sanctions. |
| President Barack Obama's administration has said any interim agreement would see the bulk of international and US sanctions targeting Iran's nuclear programme remain in place, but that Iran would get sanctions relief worth between $6bn and $7bn. | President Barack Obama's administration has said any interim agreement would see the bulk of international and US sanctions targeting Iran's nuclear programme remain in place, but that Iran would get sanctions relief worth between $6bn and $7bn. |
| The essence of the deal would involve Iran making no more advances in its nuclear programme and agreeing to "more vigorous inspections", he said. | The essence of the deal would involve Iran making no more advances in its nuclear programme and agreeing to "more vigorous inspections", he said. |