GENEVA (Reuters) – Iran and six major powers have made some progress toward an interim deal to curb Tehran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, but both sides said yesterday they still have significant differences to overcome.
Negotiators appeared to downplay anticipation of an imminent breakthrough in the three-day talks that began on Wednesday after the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany came close to winning concessions from Iran in the last round of negotiations two weeks ago.
Several Western diplomats said there was a good chance that US Secretary of State John Kerry would join foreign ministers from the other five members of the six nation group in Geneva in another attempt to nail down a long elusive deal with Iran. One diplomat saw a “very high probability” of ministers coming to another meeting, but there were no signs that the ministers were making definite travel plans. A senior European diplomat told reporters the ministers would only travel to Geneva if there was a deal to sign.
“We have made progress, including core issues,” the European diplomat said. “Tomorrow will be important. There are four or five things still on the table” that need to be resolved.
“There are things (Iran has proposed) that are acceptable, and others that aren’t,” he said.
Still, he added that the atmosphere was positive, describing Thursday’s meetings as “constructive but not conclusive.” He said no one was suggesting the talks should be broken off and indicated they could run into Saturday.