Kerry, Zarif seek breakthrough for Iran nuclear accord
Secretary of State John Kerry held a second day of talks with Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as negotiators search for an elusive breakthrough for nuclear deal.
Vienna — US Secretary of State John Kerry held a second day of “lengthy and productive” meetings with Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif here Monday (July 14), as negotiators from Iran and the six world powers (P5+1) seek an elusive breakthrough to help clinch a final Iran nuclear deal by a deadline next week.
Kerry and Zarif, joined in the evening by European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, “had a lengthy and productive meeting tonight,” a State Department official said July 14, adding that Kerry planned to stay on in Vienna a second night.
“The negotiating teams are working very hard to see if they can make progress here,” the State Department official said. “Tonight’s discussions were serious, but there is more work to do.”
Analysts said there was pressure to reach at least a political breakthrough on the key sticking point of Iranian enrichment capacity by the July 20 deadline when a six-month interim nuclear deal expires, after which other matters could more quickly fall into place.
