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| Kerry Cites ‘Progress’ in Iran Talks While Gaps Remain | Kerry Cites ‘Progress’ in Iran Talks While Gaps Remain |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| VIENNA — After intensive talks with his Iranian counterpart, Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday that “tangible progress” had been made in negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program but acknowledged that “very real gaps” remained. | VIENNA — After intensive talks with his Iranian counterpart, Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday that “tangible progress” had been made in negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program but acknowledged that “very real gaps” remained. |
| When the talks began six months ago, it was generally assumed that if an accord to roll back Iran’s nuclear program was to be reached the compromises would be negotiated at the 11th hour. | When the talks began six months ago, it was generally assumed that if an accord to roll back Iran’s nuclear program was to be reached the compromises would be negotiated at the 11th hour. |
| But as the J deadline approaches on Sunday, an accord is not yet at hand and Mr. Kerry signaled the need for top-level consultations in Washington on the American negotiating strategy. | |
| “I am returning to Washington today to consult with President Obama and with leaders in Congress over coming days about the prospects for a comprehensive agreement as well as a path forward if we do not achieve one by the 20th of July, including the question whether or not more time is warranted,” Mr. Kerry said. | “I am returning to Washington today to consult with President Obama and with leaders in Congress over coming days about the prospects for a comprehensive agreement as well as a path forward if we do not achieve one by the 20th of July, including the question whether or not more time is warranted,” Mr. Kerry said. |
| In an indication of the complexity of the talks and Mr. Kerry’s dogged negotiating style, no sooner did he emerge from his news conference than he launched into a meeting with Catherine Ashton, the foreign policy chief for the European Union, and then yet another meeting with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister. | In an indication of the complexity of the talks and Mr. Kerry’s dogged negotiating style, no sooner did he emerge from his news conference than he launched into a meeting with Catherine Ashton, the foreign policy chief for the European Union, and then yet another meeting with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister. |
| Mr. Kerry declined to comment on the proposal that Mr. Zarif outlined in an interview with The New York Times, saying that he would not negotiate in public. | Mr. Kerry declined to comment on the proposal that Mr. Zarif outlined in an interview with The New York Times, saying that he would not negotiate in public. |
| “The real negotiation is not going to be done in the public eye,” he said. “These are tough negotiations.” | “The real negotiation is not going to be done in the public eye,” he said. “These are tough negotiations.” |
| In the interview with The Times, Mr. Zarif proposed a deal under which Iran would essentially freeze its capacity to produce enriched uranium for several years but would not be subject to constraints on such enrichment after that. | In the interview with The Times, Mr. Zarif proposed a deal under which Iran would essentially freeze its capacity to produce enriched uranium for several years but would not be subject to constraints on such enrichment after that. |
| There has been some speculation that Mr. Zarif’s hints of flexibility, in connection with the progress Mr. Kerry reported on Tuesday, may provide a sufficient basis for continuing the nuclear talks past Sunday, which can be done if both sides agree. | |
| The Iranian proposal, however, runs counter to the goal of the current talks as American officials described them last year: a lasting agreement that would put stricter limits on Iran’s nuclear potential, assuring that the Iranian program is peaceful while adding substantially to the time it would take Iran to produce a nuclear device if it reneged on the agreement. | The Iranian proposal, however, runs counter to the goal of the current talks as American officials described them last year: a lasting agreement that would put stricter limits on Iran’s nuclear potential, assuring that the Iranian program is peaceful while adding substantially to the time it would take Iran to produce a nuclear device if it reneged on the agreement. |
| Gary Samore, a former senior official on the staff of President Obama’s National Security Council, said that Mr. Zarif’s proposal was “not enough for a deal but enough for an extension of the negotiations.” | Gary Samore, a former senior official on the staff of President Obama’s National Security Council, said that Mr. Zarif’s proposal was “not enough for a deal but enough for an extension of the negotiations.” |
| Olli Heinonen, the former deputy director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in an interview that Mr. Zarif’s proposal would not add to the time Iran would need to break out of an accord and produce enough enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon. | Olli Heinonen, the former deputy director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in an interview that Mr. Zarif’s proposal would not add to the time Iran would need to break out of an accord and produce enough enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon. |
| “What Zarif suggests is actually to maintain a status quo,” Mr. Heinonen said. “Thus I do not see that this proposal opens any avenues for a deal.” | “What Zarif suggests is actually to maintain a status quo,” Mr. Heinonen said. “Thus I do not see that this proposal opens any avenues for a deal.” |
| David Albright, a nuclear expert, also said that the proposal indicated that broad gaps remained between the two sides. The interview with Mr. Zarif, Mr. Albright said, indicated that “the Iranians have returned to earth but are not yet in the ballpark of reasonable offers.” | David Albright, a nuclear expert, also said that the proposal indicated that broad gaps remained between the two sides. The interview with Mr. Zarif, Mr. Albright said, indicated that “the Iranians have returned to earth but are not yet in the ballpark of reasonable offers.” |
| Robert Einhorn, a former senior State Department official, offered a similar assessment. | Robert Einhorn, a former senior State Department official, offered a similar assessment. |
| “The modified Iranian approach doesn’t seem to be much of a concession,” Mr. Einhorn said in an interview. “They remain opposed to reducing their current enrichment capability.” | “The modified Iranian approach doesn’t seem to be much of a concession,” Mr. Einhorn said in an interview. “They remain opposed to reducing their current enrichment capability.” |
| Mr. Einhorn also said that while Mr. Zarif suggested that Iran was willing to defer “ramping up to an industrial-scale enrichment capability,” Iran had little reason to do so in the near future as it would still need to finish developing more advanced centrifuges and mass produce them. | Mr. Einhorn also said that while Mr. Zarif suggested that Iran was willing to defer “ramping up to an industrial-scale enrichment capability,” Iran had little reason to do so in the near future as it would still need to finish developing more advanced centrifuges and mass produce them. |