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                Kerry: 'Real Gaps' Remain in Iran Nuclear Talks

   by Al Pessin

   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has ended three days of talks in
   Vienna with his Iranian counterpart without breaking the deadlock over
   the future of Iran's nuclear program.  But lower level-talks will
   continue at least until a Sunday deadline to reach long-term agreement
   .

   Kerry told a news conference there has been progress in the talks with
   Iran and the other five countries deputized by the U.N. Security
   Council.  He says an agreement is possible, but it remains out of
   reach.

   "We have all continued to negotiate in good faith.  But after my
   conversations here with both Iran and with our P5+1 partners, in
   particular, it is clear that we still have more work to do," he noted.

   ''Kerry declined to provide details of the remaining disputes, but they
   are believed to center on how much capacity Iran will be allowed for
   the enrichment of uranium, and how long the restrictions will last.
   Enrichment is an essential step in preparing fuel for nuclear
   facilities, both for peaceful and military purposes.

   An agreement would include the reduction, and eventual end, of
   international economic sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.

   Iran says its nuclear program is, and always will be, purely peaceful.
   But Secretary Kerry made clear Iran must take concrete steps to
   guarantee that.

   "The first test is to answer the questions and come up with a formula
   that says to the world `this is a peaceful nuclear program, and it
   cannot be used to make weapons, and we know that to a certainty," he
   said.

   In[1] an interview with The New York Times, Iranian Foreign Minister
   Mohammed Javad Zarif said Iran is willing to freeze its enrichment
   program for a few years, but not to reduce it.  The international
   negotiators are believed to be seeking a reduction from current levels
   for a decade or more.

   During a break in the talks, Zarif explained how he views the process.

   "We are trying to look into ways and means of bridging the gaps,
   narrowing the differences that we have, not necessarily we are trying
   to meet half way but in fact by trying to look into innovative ways of
   addressing the problems so that we can reach the objectives of the
   Geneva plan of action," he explained.

   The effort is complicated by hardline views among some leaders in both
   Iran and the United States.  Iran's Supreme Leader recently spoke of
   increasing Iran's enrichment capability by nearly 20 times.  But
   Secretary Kerry did not seem concerned, saying he had heard the figure
   before and it represents a long-term plan.

   Still, many experts believe that while the diplomats and their
   technical teams probably can work out an agreement, conservative
   politicians in both the United States and Iran may not accept it.

   "These negotiations are more informed by constraints of domestic
   politics than by real imperatives of national interests," noted Iran
   expert Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group.

   Still, Vaez says an acceptable agreement can be reached, although
   probably not by Sunday.  And he is not surprised that the talks are
   going down to the last minute, and quite possibly beyond.

   Secretary Kerry said if there is no accord by Sunday, the United States
   will assess the progress, and the prospects for more, and then decide
   whether to agree to an extension.

   ''
     __________________________________________________________________

   [2]http://www.voanews.com/content/some-progress-in-nuclear-talks-but-re
   al-gaps-remain/1957685.html

References

   1. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/14/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-talks.html?_r=0
   2. http://www.voanews.com/content/some-progress-in-nuclear-talks-but-real-gaps-remain/1957685.html