‘Significant gaps’ remain in Iran nuclear talks – Kerry

LONDON, United Kingdom – US Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday, February 21, that there were still “significant gaps” in negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program that are set to resume Sunday, February 22.

He also warned that US President Barack Obama had “no inclination whatsoever” to extend the talks facing a March 31 deadline for agreement on the political framework.

“There are still significant gaps, there is still a distance to travel,” Kerry told a press conference in London ahead of two days of talks in Geneva.

“President Obama has no inclination whatsoever to extend these talks beyond the period that has been set out.”

He added: “Our target remains, as the president has said, towards the end of March and I am absolutely confident that President Obama is fully prepared to stop these talks” if he feels that is necessary.

Kerry again stressed unity of the international community in the negotiations, saying they were “in lock step”.

Iran and the P5+1 group of Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany are trying to strike a deal that would prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb in return for an easing of punishing economic sanctions. Iran denies its nuclear program has military objectives. – Rappler.com