Iran Nuclear Talks: US Hardens Position Ahead of Deadline
Just days ahead of the crucial deadline for reaching a nuclear deal, the United States has hardened its position while Iran is showing great flexibility over its nuclear program.
"I am disquieted by what I see as alarming signs that there are attempts to blame Iran when all the facts indicate that there has been a recent hardening of the US position and it is Iran that has shown a great deal of flexibility," Kaveh Afrasiabi, author and political scientist from Boston said in an interview with Press TV on Friday.
Recalling nuclear negotiations between the United States and India in 2006, Afrasiabi said that considering the "situation is fluid" there is a chance of breakthrough at the last moment or the deadline might be extended further.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif delayed their other commitments and stayed on in Vienna to break a deadlock in the nuclear talks.
"Kerry has delayed his departure (for Paris)... in order to continue consultations' with Zarif," Kerry's spokesperson Jen Psaki said.
Iran and the six world powers - the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany - have been negotiating since February to reach a nuclear deal. The talks were extended and the latest deadline requires the countries to reach an agreement by Nov. 24.
"We are running against the clock. Obviously, the deadline is Monday, and our folks there (in Vienna) are working furiously to meet it. Serious gaps do remain," said White House spokesman Eric Schultz.
The world powers want Iran to assure that it would curb its nuclear programme in exchange for lifting of U.N. sanctions, BBC reports. The Western powers want to restrict Iran from acquiring weapon-grade material, but Tehran wishes to expand its capacity 20-fold.
