Negotiations over Iran's nuclear program entered a critical phase on Monday with differences still remaining less than two days before a deadline for the outline of an agreement.
With the March 31 target fast approaching, the top diplomats from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Germany and Iran were meeting to try to bridge remaining gaps and hammer out the framework deal that would be the basis for a final accord to be reached by the end of June.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, have been meeting in the Swiss town of Lausanne since Thursday in an intense effort to reach a political understanding on terms that would curb Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
Officials say the sides have made some progress, with Iran considering demands for further cuts to its uranium enrichment program but pushing back on how long it must limit technology it could use to make atomic arms. In addition to sticking points on research and development, differences remain on the timing and scope of sanctions removal, the officials said.
And, in a sign that a deal is unlikely today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will leave the talks, just a day after arriving, to return to Moscow for previously planned meetings, according to his spokeswoman Maria Zarakhova.
Lavrov will return to Lausanne tomorrow if there is a realistic chance for a deal, she said. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Sunday it was up to the Iranians to make the choice to accept what has been presented to them.
By accepting the restrictions, the Iranians would "live up to their rhetoric that they are not trying to acquire a nuclear weapon," he said in Washington on ABC's "This Week." The Obama administration says any deal will stretch the time Iran needs to make a nuclear weapon from the present two to three months to at least a year.
But critics question that, and say it would be flawed because it keeps Tehran's nuclear technology intact. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the forefront of accusations that Iran helped Shiite rebels advance in Yemen, says the deal in the works sends the message that "there is a reward for Iran's aggression".
"But we do not shut our eyes, and we will continue to act against any threat," he said an allusion to Israeli warnings that it will use force as a last resort against Tehran's nuclear program.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
