WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The world's major powers and Iran are racing against time to reach a deal over Tehran's nuclear program, with another extension of the negotiations not being the focus, said a White House spokesman Friday.
White House spokesman Eric Schultz said Secretary of State John Kerry was in Vienna, Austria, for talks in his last-ditch efforts to close the "remaining gaps," as the Nov. 24 deadline is fast approaching.
"We are pressing hard," Schultz told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Las Vegas, Nevada. "We are running against the clock. Obviously the deadline is Monday, and our folks there are working furiously to meet it."
"We're going to race against the clock to get this done," he added.
Despite rife speculation about another extension of the talks between Iran and the so-called P5+1 group of Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States plus Germany, State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said the issue is not the focus of the ongoing talks.
"We're focused on the 24th of November," he told reporters at a daily news briefing. "We're not talking about an extension with the Iranians. We're not focused on that."
Hope for a comprehensive deal by Monday is fading, as gaps remain on some key issues, which include the size and scope of Iran's nuclear program, particularly the number of centrifuges Iran will be allowed to operate, and the nuclear-relevant sanction relief for Iran.
"Serious gaps do remain, and throughout the negotiations, the P5+1 have put forth proposals that are consistent with our core objectives and consistent with Tehran's expressed desire for a viable civilian nuclear program," Schultz said.
Iran and the six powers agreed in July to extend their nuclear talks for another four months till Nov. 24, as they could not narrow down significant gaps on core issues during the past six months.
The two sides began their latest round of talks in Vienna Tuesday.
VIENNA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) --Iranand P5+1 group are striving to find a long-term solution for the decade-old disputed Iranian nuclear program, aiming to strike a comprehensive deal which could change the political map by deadline next Monday.
Negotiators from Tehran and so called P5+1 group(Permanent members of the UN Security Council plusGermany) are making last effort to bridge the gaps over some key issues.Full Story
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry headed for Europe Monday for talks onIran's nuclear programs, a week before the deadline for a comprehensive deal expires.
"We are obviously entering in a key period with the negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program," Kerry said at a forum in Washington earlier in the Monday, before traveling to London for meetings with officials from Europe and the Middle East.Full Story
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