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| U.S. and Iran continue with Iran nuclear talks despite Israeli objections | U.S. and Iran continue with Iran nuclear talks despite Israeli objections |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MONTREUX, Switzerland — Secretary of State John F. Kerry wrapped up the latest talks with Iran’s foreign minister on Wednesday before heading to brief Arab and European allies on efforts to rein in Tehran’s nuclear program. | |
| The negotiations — which coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address in Washington to denounce the deal making — made “some progress” but obstacles still remain, a senior State Department official said. | |
| “We are still working through some difficult issues,” said the official, without giving further details. The official spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity under the agency’s rules. | |
| [Factcheck: Netanyahu takes Kerry out of context] | |
| Negotiators for the United States, the European Union and Iran are racing to reach at least a general understanding by the end of March. Then it will be up to President Obama to decide if enough progress has been made for the talks to continue and seek to ironing out technical details by June 30. | |
| The ultimate aim is to ensure that Iran’s nuclear proficiency is used only for peaceful purposes. The West and its allies worry that Iran’s ability to enrich uranium could one day be expanded to produce material for a nuclear weapon. Iran says it only seeks nuclear fuel for energy-producing reactors and medical uses. | |
| “We know that any agreement is something the entire world is going to pore over, every line, every word, to make sure . . . Iran can’t secure nuclear weapons by closing down the pathways to fissile materials, including a covert pathway,” the State Department official said. | |
| Asked about possible progress, Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, told reporters: “We have, but a lot of work remains,” the Reuters news agency reported. | |
| In Washington, Netanyahu sought to rally opposition to a possible deal in his address to a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday. None of the negotiators at the Swiss resort of Monteux watched his address live, though some have watched clips of his remarks since then, the official said. | |
| The negotiators are under intense pressure to come up with a deal the world will approve of, not only in Israel but in other countries in the region worried about Iran’s expanding influence. | |
| Kerry’s next stop is Saudi Arabia, which views Iran as a major regional rival. He then plans to meet with the foreign ministers of France, Britain and Germany in Paris on Saturday. | |
| U.S. officials led by President Obama have criticized Netanyahu for not presenting any viable alternatives to preventing Iran from getting the bomb. | U.S. officials led by President Obama have criticized Netanyahu for not presenting any viable alternatives to preventing Iran from getting the bomb. |
| The U.S. delegation at the Wednesday talks included Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, and the Iranian team included Moniz’s counterpart, Ali Akbar Salehii. | The U.S. delegation at the Wednesday talks included Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, and the Iranian team included Moniz’s counterpart, Ali Akbar Salehii. |
| But more action seemed to be happening behind the scenes. | But more action seemed to be happening behind the scenes. |
| Kerry spokeswoman Jen Psaki sent reporters a copy of an article published by factcheck.org that said Netanyahu had misrepresented Kerry in one of the central points made in his speech. | Kerry spokeswoman Jen Psaki sent reporters a copy of an article published by factcheck.org that said Netanyahu had misrepresented Kerry in one of the central points made in his speech. |
| The vetting Web site said Netanyahu had taken Kerry out of context when he claimed Kerry “confirmed last week that Iran could legitimately possess” 190,000 centrifuges, used to enrich uranium, at the end of the nuclear agreement the United States is trying to negotiate with Iran, putting Iran “weeks away” from the ability to build up an “arsenal of nuclear weapons.” | The vetting Web site said Netanyahu had taken Kerry out of context when he claimed Kerry “confirmed last week that Iran could legitimately possess” 190,000 centrifuges, used to enrich uranium, at the end of the nuclear agreement the United States is trying to negotiate with Iran, putting Iran “weeks away” from the ability to build up an “arsenal of nuclear weapons.” |
| In fact, Kerry spoke more generally in testimony he gave to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Feb. 25, saying that a “civilian power plant that’s producing power legitimately, and not a threat to proliferation, you could have as many as 190,000 or more centrifuges.” Deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said at the time he was not speaking specifically about Iran. | In fact, Kerry spoke more generally in testimony he gave to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Feb. 25, saying that a “civilian power plant that’s producing power legitimately, and not a threat to proliferation, you could have as many as 190,000 or more centrifuges.” Deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said at the time he was not speaking specifically about Iran. |
| Psaki’s e-mail made no additional comments, beyond the subject line, “Please share.” | |
| Daniela Deane in London and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. | |