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| Kerry Pushes Iran Nuclear Deal Timetable Amid Differences With France | Kerry Pushes Iran Nuclear Deal Timetable Amid Differences With France |
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| LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Stressing that it was time to make tough decisions, Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday that negotiators should stick to their goal of completing an initial accord limiting Iran’s nuclear program by the end of March. | LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Stressing that it was time to make tough decisions, Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday that negotiators should stick to their goal of completing an initial accord limiting Iran’s nuclear program by the end of March. |
| “We recognize that fundamental decisions have to be made now, and they don’t get any easier as time goes by,” Mr. Kerry said before leaving for a meeting Saturday night in London with his British, French and German counterparts. | “We recognize that fundamental decisions have to be made now, and they don’t get any easier as time goes by,” Mr. Kerry said before leaving for a meeting Saturday night in London with his British, French and German counterparts. |
| “We have not yet reached the finish line but make no mistake we have the opportunity to try to get this right,” Mr. Kerry added. | “We have not yet reached the finish line but make no mistake we have the opportunity to try to get this right,” Mr. Kerry added. |
| While American officials have sought to play down reports of differences with French officials, Mr. Kerry’s comments were at odds with the views of French diplomats who have expressed alarm that the West may undermine its own negotiating leverage by rushing to complete an initial understanding. | While American officials have sought to play down reports of differences with French officials, Mr. Kerry’s comments were at odds with the views of French diplomats who have expressed alarm that the West may undermine its own negotiating leverage by rushing to complete an initial understanding. |
| American and Iranian negotiators are trying to meet a March 31 deadline for drafting the outlines of an accord. Once that is done, a detailed, comprehensive agreement is to be completed by the end of June. | American and Iranian negotiators are trying to meet a March 31 deadline for drafting the outlines of an accord. Once that is done, a detailed, comprehensive agreement is to be completed by the end of June. |
| But in a message on Twitter on Friday that reflected the views of other French officials, Gérard Araud, France’s ambassador to the United States, warned that it was risky to stick with a firm March 31 deadline. | |
| “Repeating that an agreement has to be reached by the end of March is a bad tactic,” Mr. Araud wrote. “Pressure on ourselves to conclude at any price.” | “Repeating that an agreement has to be reached by the end of March is a bad tactic,” Mr. Araud wrote. “Pressure on ourselves to conclude at any price.” |
| Iran has generally expressed a more optimistic view of the state of the talks than the United States, and President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday that the recently completed round of negotiations had established “a foundation for a final agreement.” | Iran has generally expressed a more optimistic view of the state of the talks than the United States, and President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday that the recently completed round of negotiations had established “a foundation for a final agreement.” |
| “In this round of talks, shared points of view emerged in some of the areas where they had been a difference of opinion,” he told the state news agency IRNA. “I believe it is possible to reach an agreement and there is nothing that cannot be resolved.” | “In this round of talks, shared points of view emerged in some of the areas where they had been a difference of opinion,” he told the state news agency IRNA. “I believe it is possible to reach an agreement and there is nothing that cannot be resolved.” |
| Mr. Kerry said that his meeting in London would provide an opportunity to exchange ideas on how to overcome the remaining issues in the talks with his European counterparts, Laurent Fabius of France, Philip Hammond of Britain, Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany and Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign policy chief. | Mr. Kerry said that his meeting in London would provide an opportunity to exchange ideas on how to overcome the remaining issues in the talks with his European counterparts, Laurent Fabius of France, Philip Hammond of Britain, Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany and Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign policy chief. |
| After coordinating strategy, Mr. Kerry added, the United States and its negotiating partners would return to Lausanne for talks that are scheduled to resume Thursday and determine “whether or not an agreement is possible.” | After coordinating strategy, Mr. Kerry added, the United States and its negotiating partners would return to Lausanne for talks that are scheduled to resume Thursday and determine “whether or not an agreement is possible.” |
| A number of hurdles emerged during of the most recent talks. One is how quickly to suspend or remove sanctions that have been imposed on Iran. Another is what type of limits should be imposed on the research and development of new types of centrifuges for enriching uranium. | A number of hurdles emerged during of the most recent talks. One is how quickly to suspend or remove sanctions that have been imposed on Iran. Another is what type of limits should be imposed on the research and development of new types of centrifuges for enriching uranium. |
| An important question about which American and French officials may have somewhat different views is how long an accord would last. | An important question about which American and French officials may have somewhat different views is how long an accord would last. |
| The Obama administration has said that any agreement should extend to a year the time that Iran would need to produce enough nuclear material for a bomb. That measure is intended to preclude Iran from making a dash for a bomb if it decides to “break out” of an accord. | The Obama administration has said that any agreement should extend to a year the time that Iran would need to produce enough nuclear material for a bomb. That measure is intended to preclude Iran from making a dash for a bomb if it decides to “break out” of an accord. |
| French officials have argued such break out provisions should be in effect for 15 years. American officials have been less specific on this point in briefings for reporters, insisting that such measures should be in place for at least 10 years. | French officials have argued such break out provisions should be in effect for 15 years. American officials have been less specific on this point in briefings for reporters, insisting that such measures should be in place for at least 10 years. |
| While the French have raised concern about wrapping up an accord by the end of March, the Obama administration faces the political challenge of demonstrating progress so it can hold off a Congressional move to impose additional economic sanctions on Iran. | While the French have raised concern about wrapping up an accord by the end of March, the Obama administration faces the political challenge of demonstrating progress so it can hold off a Congressional move to impose additional economic sanctions on Iran. |
| As reports of French concerns have emerged, President Obama called President François Hollande of France on Friday to discuss the negotiations. | As reports of French concerns have emerged, President Obama called President François Hollande of France on Friday to discuss the negotiations. |
| “The presidents reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a long-term comprehensive deal that fully and verifiably addresses the international community’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, while noting that Iran must take steps to resolve several remaining issues,” the White House said in a statement. | “The presidents reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a long-term comprehensive deal that fully and verifiably addresses the international community’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, while noting that Iran must take steps to resolve several remaining issues,” the White House said in a statement. |
| Some American commentators have suggested that the French position is more show than substance. They argue that France’s motivation is primarily to counter the notion that the United States is the main negotiator with Iran and show Sunni Arab states, who are potential arms buyers, that they are taking a firm stand. | Some American commentators have suggested that the French position is more show than substance. They argue that France’s motivation is primarily to counter the notion that the United States is the main negotiator with Iran and show Sunni Arab states, who are potential arms buyers, that they are taking a firm stand. |
| But other observers say that France has expertise on arms control questions and legitimate concerns that an agreement must be effective enough to discourage other states in the Middle East from seeking to develop nuclear weapons. | But other observers say that France has expertise on arms control questions and legitimate concerns that an agreement must be effective enough to discourage other states in the Middle East from seeking to develop nuclear weapons. |
| “France wants an agreement, but a robust one that really guarantees that Iran can have access to civilian nuclear power, but not the atomic bomb,” Mr. Fabius told Europe 1 radio on Saturday. | “France wants an agreement, but a robust one that really guarantees that Iran can have access to civilian nuclear power, but not the atomic bomb,” Mr. Fabius told Europe 1 radio on Saturday. |
| “If the accord is not sufficiently solid then regional countries would say it’s not serious enough, so we are also going to get the nuclear weapon, and that would lead to an extremely dangerous nuclear proliferation,” Mr. Fabius added. | “If the accord is not sufficiently solid then regional countries would say it’s not serious enough, so we are also going to get the nuclear weapon, and that would lead to an extremely dangerous nuclear proliferation,” Mr. Fabius added. |