US secretary of state 'hopeful' Iran nuke deal near
VIENNA - After days of saying Iranian nuclear talks can go either way, US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday expressed optimism that a deal can be reached.
Kerry said he is "hopeful" after his last meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. He said a "few tough things" remain in the way of agreement but "we're getting to some real decisions."
Kerry spoke less than two days before Monday's target date for a pact meant to impose long-term verifiable limits on nuclear programs that Tehran could modify to produce weapons. Iran would get tens of billions of dollars in sanctions relief in return.
The talks are now in their 16th day and have been extended three times since the first deadline of March 31 was missed.
