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Kerry Flying to Iran Nuclear Talks, Sign of Progress Kerry to Join Iran Nuclear Talks, in Sign of Progress
(35 minutes later)
GENEVA — Secretary of State John Kerry planned to fly to Geneva on Friday to join the talks on imposing a temporary freeze on Iran’s nuclear program, a sign that the negotiations are edging close to an agreement.GENEVA — Secretary of State John Kerry planned to fly to Geneva on Friday to join the talks on imposing a temporary freeze on Iran’s nuclear program, a sign that the negotiations are edging close to an agreement.
Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, said in a statement that Mr. Kerry had decided to go after having consulted with Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s top foreign policy official and lead negotiator for the big powers in the talks with Iran.Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, said in a statement that Mr. Kerry had decided to go after having consulted with Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s top foreign policy official and lead negotiator for the big powers in the talks with Iran.
Ms. Psaki said his goal was to “help narrow the differences and move closer to an agreement.”Ms. Psaki said his goal was to “help narrow the differences and move closer to an agreement.”
The aim of the accord is to halt much of Iran’s nuclear program for six months so negotiators have time to pursue a more comprehensive accord.The aim of the accord is to halt much of Iran’s nuclear program for six months so negotiators have time to pursue a more comprehensive accord.
The current round of negotiations began on Wednesday amid heightened expectations that the interim accord would be sealed this week.The current round of negotiations began on Wednesday amid heightened expectations that the interim accord would be sealed this week.
The top diplomats from the six world powers that are negotiating with Iran--the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany—had been expected to go to Geneva if an accord appeared to be at hand and their involvement was needed to push it over the finish line.The top diplomats from the six world powers that are negotiating with Iran--the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany—had been expected to go to Geneva if an accord appeared to be at hand and their involvement was needed to push it over the finish line.
Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, was the first to go to Geneva and arrived Friday afternoon.Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, was the first to go to Geneva and arrived Friday afternoon.
Earlier on Friday, Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said that a major stumbling block involved what constraints to impose on Iran’s effort to build a heavy water reactor near the town of Arak that would produce plutonium.Earlier on Friday, Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said that a major stumbling block involved what constraints to impose on Iran’s effort to build a heavy water reactor near the town of Arak that would produce plutonium.
“We still disagree on three or four points, the most important of which seems to be the heavy-water reactor in Arak,” Mr. Zarif said, according to Tasnim, an Iranian news agency.“We still disagree on three or four points, the most important of which seems to be the heavy-water reactor in Arak,” Mr. Zarif said, according to Tasnim, an Iranian news agency.
A senior European diplomat also said this afternoon that Arak was a sticking point and that some issues also remained pertaining to enrichment.A senior European diplomat also said this afternoon that Arak was a sticking point and that some issues also remained pertaining to enrichment.
“They made some good progress this afternoon but not enough to guarantee a deal,” the European official said. “There are many options on the table for the Iranians that would allow them to claim a measure of victory. The issue is do the Iranians feel that at home this looks all right.”“They made some good progress this afternoon but not enough to guarantee a deal,” the European official said. “There are many options on the table for the Iranians that would allow them to claim a measure of victory. The issue is do the Iranians feel that at home this looks all right.”
Mr. Zarif met with Ms. Ashton, who has served as the main interlocutor for the world powers, Friday morning and again Friday afternoon. Negotiations looked set to continue Friday evening.Mr. Zarif met with Ms. Ashton, who has served as the main interlocutor for the world powers, Friday morning and again Friday afternoon. Negotiations looked set to continue Friday evening.
As the round began earlier this week a major sticking point was Iran’s insistence that world powers acknowledge its “right” to enrich uranium. A senior Obama administration official suggested last week that a solution could be found on this question.As the round began earlier this week a major sticking point was Iran’s insistence that world powers acknowledge its “right” to enrich uranium. A senior Obama administration official suggested last week that a solution could be found on this question.
Under the expected compromise Iran would continue to enrich uranium to a level of 3.5 percent but the United States and Iran would essentially agree to disagree whether the Iranians have such a right under the nuclear nonproliferation treaty.Under the expected compromise Iran would continue to enrich uranium to a level of 3.5 percent but the United States and Iran would essentially agree to disagree whether the Iranians have such a right under the nuclear nonproliferation treaty.
Regarding Iran’s plutonium production program, Mr. Kerry said earlier this month that the United States was asking Iran, as part of an interim accord, to agree to a “complete freeze over where they are today” and that the reactor Iran is building at Arak would be covered by the agreement.Regarding Iran’s plutonium production program, Mr. Kerry said earlier this month that the United States was asking Iran, as part of an interim accord, to agree to a “complete freeze over where they are today” and that the reactor Iran is building at Arak would be covered by the agreement.
The French have been particularly adamant that stringent limits be imposed on the project and it is not known what specific limits world powers have proposed.The French have been particularly adamant that stringent limits be imposed on the project and it is not known what specific limits world powers have proposed.
Once the reactor at Arak is operational, which could happen as early as next year, it might be difficult to disable it through a military strike without risking the dispersal of nuclear material. That risk would eliminate one of the West’s options for responding to Iran, should it pursue a nuclear weapon, and thus reduce its leverage in the negotiations.Once the reactor at Arak is operational, which could happen as early as next year, it might be difficult to disable it through a military strike without risking the dispersal of nuclear material. That risk would eliminate one of the West’s options for responding to Iran, should it pursue a nuclear weapon, and thus reduce its leverage in the negotiations.
In return for an interim agreement, the United States would provide about $6 billion to $7 billion in sanctions relief.In return for an interim agreement, the United States would provide about $6 billion to $7 billion in sanctions relief.

Thomas Erdbrink contributed reporting from Tehran. 

Thomas Erdbrink contributed reporting from Tehran, and Nick Cumming-Bruce from Geneva.