Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme lurched toward another deadline on Thursday with diplomats reconvening amid persistent uncertainty and vague but seemingly hopeful pronouncements from participants.
As the talks entered a 13th day in Vienna with a flurry of closed-door meetings, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said his nation was preparing for a “post-sanctions” era, suggesting that a deal may be in sight to curb the Iranian nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. His foreign minister, meanwhile, opined on Twitter that “with mutual respect, anything possible.”
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a tweet that he and the others were “continuing to discuss difficult issues” and “working diligently to see if agreement possible.”
Kerry spoke by phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey lavrov, who is in Russia and voiced optimism, saying he was prepared to return to Vienna.
“On the basis of the principles of gradualism and reciprocity, we have come close to a final agreement, it is within the bounds of the attainable,” lavrov said.
lavrov’s deputy, Sergei Ryabkov, who is in Vienna, was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that a deal could be reached rapidly but it would require “political will.”
“I suppose it may happen in the coming hours if the sides show the political will, if such political decisions are made by the parties then this cansurely happen,” Ryabkov was quoted as saying.