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Kerry opens homestretch push for Iran nuclear deal with deadline looming Kerry opens homestretch push for Iran nuclear deal with deadline looming
(about 2 hours later)
VIENNA – Secretary of State John F. Kerry plunged into wide-ranging talks Friday over efforts to define limits on Iran’s nuclear program, meeting with Iran’s top diplomat and weighing strategies among key partners with a deadline just days away.VIENNA – Secretary of State John F. Kerry plunged into wide-ranging talks Friday over efforts to define limits on Iran’s nuclear program, meeting with Iran’s top diplomat and weighing strategies among key partners with a deadline just days away.
In a sign of the evolving nature of the talks, Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, appeared to call off plans to return to Tehran to discuss the status of the bargaining. In a sign of the evolving nature of the talks, Kerry delayed his scheduled departure from Vienna following a Friday evening meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, and said he would stay overnight to continue the arduous talks on Iran’s nuclear abilities. Zarif also appeared to call off plans to return to Tehran to discuss the status of the bargaining, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
It was not immediately clear whether Kerry would also shift his agenda after Zarif’s decision, reported by the official Islamic Republic News Agency. Kerry had been scheduled to head to Paris for further meetings with envoys from some of the nations involved in the talks: the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany.
Kerry was scheduled to head to Paris for further meetings with envoys from some of the nations involved in the talks: the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany. The moves by Kerry and Zarif come amid an array of speculation and commentary on whether a deal can be reached by Monday and — if not — what it would mean for prospects between the West and Iran after nuclear negotiations were revived nearly three years ago.
Zarif’s move comes amid an array of speculation and commentary on whether a deal can be reached by Monday and — if not — what it would mean for prospects between the West and Iran after nuclear negotiations were revived nearly three years ago.
The issues have narrowed to several key points: The extent of Iran’s ability to make nuclear fuel, the level of U.N. monitoring and how much Iran can see international and U.S. economic sanctions eased in exchange for concessions.The issues have narrowed to several key points: The extent of Iran’s ability to make nuclear fuel, the level of U.N. monitoring and how much Iran can see international and U.S. economic sanctions eased in exchange for concessions.
The U.S. and its allies fear Iran could use its uranium enrichment labs to one day produce warhead-grade material. Iran insists it does not seek a nuclear weapons and only wants to fuel reactors for energy and medical applications. The U.S. and its allies fear that Iran could use its uranium enrichment labs to one day produce warhead-grade material. Iran insists it does not seek nuclear weapons and only wants to fuel reactors for energy and medical applications.
Kerry met with Zarif on Friday, but both sides gave no significant details — a sign of how much was at stake.Kerry met with Zarif on Friday, but both sides gave no significant details — a sign of how much was at stake.
Kerry also huddled in Vienna with foreign ministers from France and Britain, as well as Germany’s representative to the talks. Kerry also spoke by telephone with Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, his office said in Moscow. Kerry also huddled in Vienna with foreign ministers from France and Britain, as well as Germany’s representative to the talks. Kerry also spoke by telephone with Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said his office in Moscow.
Russia, a close Iranian ally, has important clout in the talks. Russia built Iran’s lone energy-producing reactor in service, and signed a deal this month to construct others in the coming decade.Russia, a close Iranian ally, has important clout in the talks. Russia built Iran’s lone energy-producing reactor in service, and signed a deal this month to construct others in the coming decade.
Lavrov said he and Kerry agreed that “additional efforts” were needed to strike a deal by the deadline, according to statement from Russia’s foreign ministry, without elaborating on the remaining hurdles. Lavrov said he and Kerry agreed that “additional efforts” were needed to strike a deal by the deadline, according to a statement from Russia’s foreign ministry, without elaborating on the remaining hurdles.
In Tehran, the influential speaker of Iran’s parliament, Ali Larijani, expressed hope of a deal before the deadline as “serious talks” continue between the United States and Iran, IRNA reported.In Tehran, the influential speaker of Iran’s parliament, Ali Larijani, expressed hope of a deal before the deadline as “serious talks” continue between the United States and Iran, IRNA reported.
Kerry’s possible meetings in Paris are designed as a strategy session with European allies to plan for “the next steps forward,” said a senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitity of the talks. Kerry’s possible meetings in Paris are designed as a strategy session with European allies to plan for “the next steps forward,” said a senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.
The negotiators have been tight-lipped about the sticking points in the talks underway at the Coburg Palace.The negotiators have been tight-lipped about the sticking points in the talks underway at the Coburg Palace.
Within earshot of the hotel, about a dozen Iranians, who said they are residents of Austria, stood on a street corner waving placards that proclaimed: “No deals with the mullahs.”Within earshot of the hotel, about a dozen Iranians, who said they are residents of Austria, stood on a street corner waving placards that proclaimed: “No deals with the mullahs.”
The United States and its negotiating partners want Iran to reduce its stockpiles of uranium and the centrifuges used to enrich uranium. The goal is to get the levels low enough so it would take a year or longer for Iran to enrich enough uranium to potentially build a nuclear bomb.The United States and its negotiating partners want Iran to reduce its stockpiles of uranium and the centrifuges used to enrich uranium. The goal is to get the levels low enough so it would take a year or longer for Iran to enrich enough uranium to potentially build a nuclear bomb.
But Iran, which claims its nuclear program is only for civilian purposes, wants more centrifuges to make fuel for nuclear reactors. Iran currently has one main energy-producing reactors, but others are planned. But Iran, which claims that its nuclear program is only for civilian purposes, wants more centrifuges to make fuel for nuclear reactors. Iran currently has one main energy-producing reactor, but others are planned.
In addition, Iran wants all sanctions lifted permanently and soon.In addition, Iran wants all sanctions lifted permanently and soon.
The United States and its allies favor a gradual suspension, a temporary measure that could be slapped back into place if Iran is found to be cheating. They also want Iran, which already has a heavily monitored nuclear program, to submit to even more oversight from the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency.The United States and its allies favor a gradual suspension, a temporary measure that could be slapped back into place if Iran is found to be cheating. They also want Iran, which already has a heavily monitored nuclear program, to submit to even more oversight from the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency.
On Thursday, Iran’s nuclear head, Ali Akbar Salehi, showed no signs of relenting, telling local reporters that Iran would increase its enrichment capacity to 20 times its current level within eight years.On Thursday, Iran’s nuclear head, Ali Akbar Salehi, showed no signs of relenting, telling local reporters that Iran would increase its enrichment capacity to 20 times its current level within eight years.
Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.