US, Iran cite progress in nuke talks, though deal is unclear
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With 10 days to a nuclear deal deadline, top US and Iranian officials spoke Saturday of substantial headway, and Iran's president proclaimed that agreement was within reach. But America's top diplomat said it was up to Tehran to make the decisions needed to get there.
Iranian President Hassan Rohani said "achieving a deal is possible" by a March 31 target date for a preliminary accord that is meant to lead to a final deal by the end of June that would crimp Tehran's nuclear programs in exchange for sanctions relief.
US Secretary of State John Kerry was more circumspect, as he spoke to reporters after six days of negotiations in the Swiss city of Lausanne. The talks, made "substantial progress," he said, but "important gaps remain.
"We have an opportunity to get this right," Kerry said, as he urged Iran to make "fundamental decisions" that prove to the world it has no interest in atomic weapons.
