VIENNA--Talks between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif are set to run into a second
day Monday, as the two sides seek to close gaps on a comprehensive
nuclear agreement.
Mr. Kerry is due to meet Mr. Zarif late Monday morning after the
two held discussions in Vienna Sunday evening.
Mr. Kerry was one of four ministers from the six-power group
that negotiates with Iran on its nuclear program to came to Vienna
Sunday. The ministerial talks, which were supposed to end Sunday,
are seeking to revive hopes of completing a nuclear agreement by
the July 20 deadline.
The U.K., German and French foreign ministers departed late
Sunday afternoon saying that there had been no major
breakthrough.
However following a length meeting with Mr. Kerry, which ran
into the evening, the Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif told
reporters the talks had "made some important headway."
On Monday morning, a senior State Department official said that
Mr. Kerry will stay in Vienna to "take the time necessary...to see
if progress can be made."
"One of the goals of Secretary Kerry coming to Vienna was to
have in-depth discussions with Foreign Minister Zarif to gauge
Iran's willingness to make the critical choices it needs to make,"
the official said. "That's a pretty serious and potentially lengthy
conversation."
Iran negotiates on its nuclear program with the U.S., the U.K.,
France, Russia, China and Germany. The Russian and Chinese foreign
ministers are unable to join the talks on Sunday.
Iran and the six powers are seeking to reach an agreement over
the next week that gradually lifts international sanctions on
Tehran in exchange for clear guarantees that Iran won't be able to
break out and quickly pursue nuclear weapons.
Iran says its nuclear program is purely for peaceful
purposes.
Mr. Kerry warned earlier this month that if there is not enough
progress in the talks by July 20, the U.S. may not allow them to
continue.
Speaking Saturday evening in Vienna, a senior U.S. official said
any final agreement would need to ensure that Iran's future
enrichment activities would be "very limited" for a number of years
that can be measured in "double digits."
Iranian officials have been pushing for a nuclear deal that
would limit the country's program for only a few years. They have
said it is Western governments that were failing to show
flexibility.
Write to Laurence Norman at laurence.norman@wsj.com
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