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U.S. and Iran continue with Iran nuclear talks despite Israeli objections Kerry: ‘External factors’ won’t curb efforts to strike Iran nuclear deal
(about 2 hours 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. MONTREUX, Switzerland — Secretary of State John F. Kerry directly rebutted critics of nuclear talks with Iran, saying Wednesday that demands for more sanctions will not slow Iran’s nuclear program as much as the agreement being pursued.
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. Kerry’s comments echoed statements from President Obama and marked his first public response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who denounced the U.S.-led efforts to strike an agreement to rein in Iran’s nuclear program.
“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. Kerry, wrapping up three days of talks with Iran’s foreign minister, said he would not allow politics or “external factors” to distract him from the negotiations as they moved toward a possible make-or-break juncture at the end of the month.
“The first step is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon,” Kerry told reports in the Swiss resort of Montreax. “And we know that absent a deal, Iran will have the ability to move ahead with its nuclear program. That we know for sure, because that’s exactly what’s happened to date.”
The ultimate aim seeks 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.
[Factcheck: Netanyahu takes Kerry out of context][Factcheck: Netanyahu takes Kerry out of context]
In over a decade of talks and sanctions, Kerry said the only measure that effectively slowed Iran’s nuclear expansion has been the interim agreement in place since November 2013 while the latest negotiations have taken place.
“No one has presented a more viable, lasting alternative for how you actually prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon,” he said, noting sanctions hurt Iran enough to get it to the negotiating table but not to stop its nuclear expansion. “So folks, simply demanding Iran capitulate is not a plan.”
“We continue to be focused on reaching a good deal, the right deal,” he added.
He spoke shortly before after finishing his last round of talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif. Kerry then planned to fly to Saudia Arabia to meet with the newly crowned King Salman and foreign ministers from other Gulf Arab countries, which view Iran as a major regional rival.
On Saturday, Kerry plans to meet with the foreign ministers of France, Britain and Germany in Paris.
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.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. Talks are scheduled to resume March 15.
“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. While American and Iranian official said some progress was made in the latest dialogue, there was no suggestions of a breakthrough.
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. “We are still working through some difficult issues,” said a senior State Department official, without giving further details. The official spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity under the agency’s rules.
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.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.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. “Now, we still don’t know whether we will get there, and it is certainly possible that we won’t,” Kerry said. “It may be that Iran simply can’t say yes to the type of deal that the international community requires. But we do know that we owe it to the American people, in my case [and the] people in the world, to try to find out.”
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.”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.Daniela Deane in London and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.
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