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| Foreign ministers arrive amid crucial weekend for Iran nuclear talks | Foreign ministers arrive amid crucial weekend for Iran nuclear talks |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Foreign ministers from nations negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran joined talks Saturday as grim-looking negotiators suggested they are still far from bridging their differences. | LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Foreign ministers from nations negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran joined talks Saturday as grim-looking negotiators suggested they are still far from bridging their differences. |
| Secretary of State John F. Kerry was scheduled to have a working lunch with the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, who arrived late Saturday morning, and his counterpart from Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The foreign ministers from Britain, Russia and China are expected later this weekend. | Secretary of State John F. Kerry was scheduled to have a working lunch with the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, who arrived late Saturday morning, and his counterpart from Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The foreign ministers from Britain, Russia and China are expected later this weekend. |
| The French and German diplomats made clear that they had come to Lausanne not just to formalize an agreement that was nearing completion but to help with negotiations that are floundering. | The French and German diplomats made clear that they had come to Lausanne not just to formalize an agreement that was nearing completion but to help with negotiations that are floundering. |
| “I am coming here with the desire to move towards a robust agreement,” Fabius told reporters on his arrival. “We have made progress on certain issues but not enough on others.” | “I am coming here with the desire to move towards a robust agreement,” Fabius told reporters on his arrival. “We have made progress on certain issues but not enough on others.” |
| Steinmeier said the talks are in their “decisive days.” | Steinmeier said the talks are in their “decisive days.” |
| “The endgame of the long negotiations has begun,” he said. “And here, with a view of the Swiss mountains, I’m reminded that as one sees the cross on the summit, the final meters are the most difficult but also the decisive ones. That’s what has to be done here in the coming hours and days. I can only hope that in view of what has been achieved over the last 12 months that the attempt for a final agreement here will not be abandoned.” | “The endgame of the long negotiations has begun,” he said. “And here, with a view of the Swiss mountains, I’m reminded that as one sees the cross on the summit, the final meters are the most difficult but also the decisive ones. That’s what has to be done here in the coming hours and days. I can only hope that in view of what has been achieved over the last 12 months that the attempt for a final agreement here will not be abandoned.” |
| Kerry and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz met for a third day with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Iran’s nuclear energy chief, Ali Akbar Salehi. They wryly hinted at the long road ahead of them. | Kerry and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz met for a third day with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Iran’s nuclear energy chief, Ali Akbar Salehi. They wryly hinted at the long road ahead of them. |
| When a reporter asked just before the talks began if they were expecting a good day in negotiations, Kerry replied, “We’re expecting an evening today.” | When a reporter asked just before the talks began if they were expecting a good day in negotiations, Kerry replied, “We’re expecting an evening today.” |
| Zarif, on the other side of the table, chimed in, “Evening, night, midnight, morning.” | Zarif, on the other side of the table, chimed in, “Evening, night, midnight, morning.” |
| The negotiators are facing a deadline of midnight Tuesday for reaching a broad agreement that would outline the conditions for a final deal on limits to Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for easing international sanctions. An interim agreement does not expire until June 30, so they have three more months to iron out many details. | The negotiators are facing a deadline of midnight Tuesday for reaching a broad agreement that would outline the conditions for a final deal on limits to Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for easing international sanctions. An interim agreement does not expire until June 30, so they have three more months to iron out many details. |
| [A framework? A deal? The semantics of the talks] | [A framework? A deal? The semantics of the talks] |
| Since this round of talks began in earnest almost 1 1 /2 years ago, the negotiators have talked up to the deadlines and beyond, only to conclude by announcing an extension of the interim agreement and a new deadline. President Obama has said there will be no extension this time, although failure to reach an agreement leaves the interim deal intact for three months. If there is no deal, it would be up to Obama to decide what steps to take next. | Since this round of talks began in earnest almost 1 1 /2 years ago, the negotiators have talked up to the deadlines and beyond, only to conclude by announcing an extension of the interim agreement and a new deadline. President Obama has said there will be no extension this time, although failure to reach an agreement leaves the interim deal intact for three months. If there is no deal, it would be up to Obama to decide what steps to take next. |
| The talks are snagged over a number of fundamental “gaps,” including how much nuclear research and development Iran would be permitted and the pace at which international sanctions against it could be lifted. | The talks are snagged over a number of fundamental “gaps,” including how much nuclear research and development Iran would be permitted and the pace at which international sanctions against it could be lifted. |
| [Obama, Britain’s Cameron warn Congress on Iran sanctions] | [Obama, Britain’s Cameron warn Congress on Iran sanctions] |
| Iran wants to continue research so it can modernize its uranium-enriching centrifuges, which use 1970s technology. It insists that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes alone, and its leaders say Islam forbids them to build nuclear weapons. | |
| Iran also wants to see sanctions eased and lifted fairly swiftly. The United States and its negotiating partners are holding out for a gradual easing of sanctions, linked to the pace at which Iran allows international inspections of its uranium facilities, mines and mills, and otherwise complies with an agreement. | Iran also wants to see sanctions eased and lifted fairly swiftly. The United States and its negotiating partners are holding out for a gradual easing of sanctions, linked to the pace at which Iran allows international inspections of its uranium facilities, mines and mills, and otherwise complies with an agreement. |
| Kerry wants to return to Washington with an agreement that the administration can defend before skeptics in Congress, showing that the considerable effort his office has invested in the talks produced a long-lasting, verifiable deal to ensure that Iran does not build nuclear weapons. | |
| The United States is adamant that any deal provide a one-year “breakout” time, meaning that, through limitations and open inspections, the agreement ensures that it would take at least a full year for Iran to amass enough weapons-grade materials to build a bomb. Many factors are involved in that, including the number and efficiency of centrifuges, and negotiators say any compromise on one factor requires an offset elsewhere. | |
| Any deal is expected to last for at least 10 years, although the French want a longer time frame. French diplomats have said they would prefer to keep negotiating even if they do not have an agreement by Tuesday. | |
| Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report. | Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Iran isn’t providing needed access or information, nuclear watchdog says | Iran isn’t providing needed access or information, nuclear watchdog says |
| Israel seeks an ally in France to oppose Iran deal | Israel seeks an ally in France to oppose Iran deal |
| Officials: U.S. considers letting Iran run nuclear centrifuges at fortified underground bunker | Officials: U.S. considers letting Iran run nuclear centrifuges at fortified underground bunker |
| Eager investors await open door to Iran | Eager investors await open door to Iran |