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Mohammad Javad Zarif arrives for a press briefing. Photo: AP

Iran nuclear talks break up with mixed signals on chances of progress

Envoys report only limited progress but hold out hope for pact with Tehran by July deadline

MCT

Negotiators trying to come up with a comprehensive agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme remained far apart on key issues as they closed their sixth round of talks.

With one month to go to their deadline, Western and Iranian negotiators accused each other of failing to offer realistic terms for their long-awaited deal.

Nevertheless, diplomats said they did make limited progress at the week-long session in Vienna and insisted they were still focused on completing the deal by the July 20 deadline.

The agreement would limit Iran's nuclear programme to prevent it from gaining a weapons capability. In exchange, six world powers - the US, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany - would lift the tough international sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif joked that the preliminary text had "more parentheses than words", referring to sections still in dispute. Still, he said there had been progress, because "we have started putting everything on paper in rather black-and white form".

Although the countries can extend the negotiating deadline under an interim deal they signed in November, July 20 "would be the best date for reaching an agreement", he said.

Diplomats acknowledged that the two sides appeared to be holding back on their best offers until the deadline was closer. Their next meeting is scheduled to begin on July 2 and is expected to continue until the deadline.

Zarif said he had been assured by President Barack Obama and other senior US officials that the administration was eager to make a deal. But their offer did not suggest they were serious.

A senior Obama administration official made a similar statement about the Iranians, saying Tehran had an opportunity to reach a deal if it demonstrated that it was serious about keeping its nuclear programme peaceful.

"What is still unclear is if Iran is really ready," the official said.

He said there had been no discussion yet of extra time for the negotiations. That is a sensitive question because an extension of the deadline could require an adjustment to the terms of the interim deal reached in November.

Some US lawmakers, fearful that the administration might strike too lenient a deal, could block such an extension, sinking the diplomatic effort.

The US official suggested that if the two sides could resolve the toughest issues, they might need only a brief extension to finalise a deal.

"If we get close and need a few more days, I don't think anybody will mind," he said.

In the course of the week, diplomats offered both optimistic and dire forecasts about the direction of the talks.

They said that the two sides had slightly adjusted their positions since making their opening demands, but that they remained far apart on key points such as how many uranium centrifuges Iran would be allowed to keep to under the deal.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Mixed signals as talks on Iran nuclear deal break up
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