Kerry deems Iran nuclear deal possible
Following a surgery on his broken right leg, US Secretary of State John Kerry says he is “hopeful” about nuclear talks with Iran, although this is the biggest challenge the Obama administration faces.
“I’ve never said optimistic. I’ve always said hopeful. I’m hopeful,” Kerry told the Boston Globe on Sunday.
“Could we get an agreement? For sure,” he said. “Could it fail? Yes.”
He made the comments one day after a meeting with US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, who also assists him in Iran talks.
After Iran and the major world powers agreed on the Lausanne framework in April, all eyes are now on the last round of talks that have a deadline of June 30.
There are a number of issues that may prolong the talks, namely the push on the West’s side to have access to all Iranian sites, including its military bases, which Iran says are off-limits.
Tehran has also made it clear that all sanctions must be immediately lifted upon reaching a final deal, while Western officials say this will be a gradual process.
Kerry said that in case of real progress, he is willing to go over the deadline for a few days.
Despite the initial agreement, the details of a final deal are yet to be worked out.
“You know, some things have gotten hard. Some things are progressing. It is hard. It is a hard negotiation. We haven’t talked to each other in 35 years. There’s huge suspicion. And huge stakes,” Kerry said.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani believes that an agreement is within reach even before the proposed deadline.
"If the other side sticks to the framework that has been established and does not bring new issues into play, I believe it can be solved and we can reach an agreement, but if they want to take the path of brinkmanship, the negotiations could take longer," Rouhani said during his Saturday news conference in Tehran.
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