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Kerry says Iran nuclear talks 'can go either way'

 
John Kerry is 
in Vienna hoping to conclude the nuclear agreement by Tuesday.
John Kerry is in Vienna hoping to conclude the nuclear agreement by Tuesday.
Published July 6, 2015

VIENNA — Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday tamped down growing optimism that agreement is near over a nuclear deal with Iran, saying that negotiations "can go either way" as a Tuesday deadline approached.

"I want to be absolutely clear," Kerry told reporters after exiting a session with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, his third of the day. "We are not yet where we need to be on several of the most difficult issues."

He spoke as diplomats here entered the final hours of more than 18 months of negotiations that will establish a new relationship between Iran and global powers or collapse.

Foreign ministers from the five countries partnering with the United States in the talks were due to arrive later Sunday in the Austrian capital, in the hope that a deal will be ready for them to discuss and endorse. Tuesday was set as the deadline after negotiators failed to meet an initial date of June 30.

All sides say they are close to finalizing a comprehensive agreement that would place limits on Iran's nuclear activities and prevent it from producing a nuclear weapon, in exchange for the lifting of international economic sanctions.

Kerry said he agreed with Zarif's assessment on Friday that the two sides "have never been closer" to a deal. But he appeared to be trying to play down any untoward optimism.

Negotiators have been trying in recent days to fill in the blanks of a framework agreement reached in early April. There are differences over the two main issues — the level of inspections and verification that Iran keeps its side of the bargain, and the pace and scope of sanctions relief Iran will get in exchange.