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Iran nuclear talks struggle with ‘tough issues’ as gaps remain Iran nuclear talks struggle with ‘tough issues’ as gaps remain
(about 2 hours later)
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Negotiators spent another tough day in talks on Iran’s nuclear program, as diplomats said Thursday they are unlikely to reach an agreement this week. LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Secretary of State John F. Kerry said U.S. and Iranian negotiators grappled Thursday with “tough issues” over Iran’s nuclear program, as diplomats suggested they are unlikely to reach an agreement this week.
A European negotiator said any talks were going “slow.” He added that they were still “far” from an agreement that would curb Iran's nuclear program and ease sanctions. A European negotiator said talks were “slow” and remained “pretty far away” from an agreement that would curb Iran's nuclear program and ease sanctions — countering claims earlier this week attributed to a top Iranian envoy that most hurdles had been cleared.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, whose morning meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was delayed by almost two hours for unexplained reasons, came to the hotel garden on a sunny day for lunch, and made a more cautious assessment. Kerry, whose morning meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was delayed by almost two hours for unexplained reasons, came to the hotel garden on a sunny day for lunch, and made a more cautious assessment.
“We’re pushing some tough issues,” he told reporters. “But we made progress. We’re just working away. Working hard.”“We’re pushing some tough issues,” he told reporters. “But we made progress. We’re just working away. Working hard.”
The most dismal assessment came from the European negotiator from one of the five countries that are working alongside the United States to reach a framework agreement by March 31: France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia.The most dismal assessment came from the European negotiator from one of the five countries that are working alongside the United States to reach a framework agreement by March 31: France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia.
“We are not close to an agreement,” the negotiator told reporters Thursday morning, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. “We are pretty far away. There are a lot of issues that still need to be resolved. The Iranians must make substantial concessions.” [A framework? A deal? The semantics of the talks ]
“We are not close to an agreement,” the negotiator told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. “We are pretty far away. There are a lot of issues that still need to be resolved. The Iranians must make substantial concessions.”
U.S. officials — also speaking on condition of anonymity due to the secretive, ongoing nature of the talks — said that evaluation was too pessimistic.U.S. officials — also speaking on condition of anonymity due to the secretive, ongoing nature of the talks — said that evaluation was too pessimistic.
But they noted they did not share the assessment of Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran’s atomic agency chief, who was quoted in Iranian media two days ago saying 90 percent of the issues had been resolved — a remark that eventually was removed from several state media Web sites.But they noted they did not share the assessment of Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran’s atomic agency chief, who was quoted in Iranian media two days ago saying 90 percent of the issues had been resolved — a remark that eventually was removed from several state media Web sites.
Salehi was observed gesturing animatedly while talking with Zarif outside the hotel Thursday morning, but reporters were not allowed close enough to hear what they were discussing.Salehi was observed gesturing animatedly while talking with Zarif outside the hotel Thursday morning, but reporters were not allowed close enough to hear what they were discussing.
The West and others worry that Iran could one day use it uranium enrichment centrifuges to move from making nuclear fuel to produce warhead-grade material. Iran insists it only seeks reactors for energy and medical applications.
In Washington, the State Department’s No. 2 official, Antony Blinken, declined to give specific details of a possible nuclear deal, but told lawmakers that it would impose the most intense inspection and monitoring requirements than “anytime and anywhere in the world.”
Speaking to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Blinken said the proposed U.N.-directed oversight would cover “cradle-to-grave” aspects of Iran’s nuclear, military and research capabilities, including access to armed forces facilities and uranium mines.
He said the goal seeks to create a “storehouse of knowledge” about Iran’s military and nuclear programs that would allow inspectors to quickly notice any violations that could move toward development of atomic weapons.
But he warned that the West and its allies must accept that Iran possesses the technology to enrich uranium, which he said could accelerate without a possible nuclear accord.
“Like it or not, Iran has mastered the [nuclear] fuel cycle,” said Blinken, a former national security adviser to President Obama. “We can’t bomb that away, we can’t sanction that away.”’
At the same hearing, Acting Treasury Undersecretary Adam Szubin said international and U.S. sanctions would only be gradually eased after Iran shows compliance in rolling back enrichment work and opening to greater inspections. The consequence for violations, he told lawmakers, would be more intense and far-reaching economic isolations.
He described Iran as currently struggling in a “$200 billion hole” – the amount he estimated has been lost from sanctions, cuts in oil exports and declining oil prices since 2012.
Though the deadline is still 12 days away, the negotiators have tentatively planned to leave this round of talks on Friday. Kerry has a meeting with the Afghan president on Monday, and the Iranian delegation wants to return to Tehran for the beginning of two weeks of festivities for the Persian new year, Nowruz, which begins this weekend.Though the deadline is still 12 days away, the negotiators have tentatively planned to leave this round of talks on Friday. Kerry has a meeting with the Afghan president on Monday, and the Iranian delegation wants to return to Tehran for the beginning of two weeks of festivities for the Persian new year, Nowruz, which begins this weekend.
However, diplomats from several countries have said this round of talks may be extended another day or two if they make enough progress. One diplomat put the odds of staying beyond Friday was 50-50.However, diplomats from several countries have said this round of talks may be extended another day or two if they make enough progress. One diplomat put the odds of staying beyond Friday was 50-50.
Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.