Iran, powers struggle to overcome disputes in push for nuclear deal

The foreign ministers of France and Germany joined the top U.S. and Iranian diplomats on Saturday to help break an impasse in nuclear negotiations as major powers and Iran closed in on a two- or three-page accord that could form the basis of a long-term deal. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif have been in Lausanne for days to try to reach a preliminary deal by a self-imposed deadline of March 31, and they held several rounds of talks on Saturday. But close as they have come to the outline of an agreement, the two sides still have deep disagreements that could wreck a deal.

In negotiations, both sides must show flexibility. We have, and are ready to make a good deal for all. We await our counterparts’ readiness.

Zarif said on Twitter

The negotiations, in progress for nearly 18 months, aim to hammer out an accord whereby Iran halts sensitive nuclear work in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, with the ultimate aim of reducing the risk of a war in the Middle East. The Russian, Chinese and British foreign ministers were due to arrive on Sunday. Western and Iranian officials familiar with the negotiations cautioned that the talks could still fail.

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