European powers, Iran make little progress in nuclear talks
BRUSSELS (AP) — European powers and Iran made little progress late Monday toward reaching an agreement to end the standoff over Tehran's nuclear program as an end-of-March deadline closes in.
"We're still making progress but there is a long way to go if we're going to get there," British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said, after talks in Brussels with his French, German and Iranian counterparts plus European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.
The talks were aimed at narrowing gaps in the positions between Iran and the world powers, as part of a 15 month negotiating process that could see Iran freeze its nuclear program for at least a decade in exchange for the gradual lifting of international sanctions.
From left, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond stand for a group photo prior to a meeting in Brussels on Monday, March 16, 2015. European Union foreign ministers hold talks with Iran¿s top diplomat on Monday to try to advance an agreement on the Islamic Republic¿s nuclear program two weeks ahead of a deadline for an accord to be reached. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Iran says the program is aimed at generating electricity and at medical research, but many in the West fear the Islamic republic is trying to covertly build atomic weapons.
"It's always useful to talk but we, the French, want a solid deal," said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. "Certain points are yet to be resolved, we hope we will be able to resolve them but as long as it's not done, it's not done."
Mogherini, who is negotiating with Iran on behalf of the world's five nuclear powers and Germany, said that all sides were aware how important it is to seal a good deal and that it was not clear whether "a technical solution" to fill the remaining gaps can be found.
"I see the elements for a deal to be reached but I still see the gaps that need to be filled," she said.
Ahead of the meeting, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged his international partners and Iran to "seize this opportunity" of talks in Brussels and in Switzerland this week to finally clinch an elusive deal.
The world powers and Iran have set an end-of-March deadline to reach a framework accord on the way ahead. Some officials have said persistent differences mean negotiators could settle for an announcement that they've made enough progress to justify further talks.
Senior officials from the world powers will continue negotiations with Iran in Lausanne, Switzerland on Wednesday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who represented Iran in Brussels, will also hold several days of discussions with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Switzerland this week, as momentum builds in the nuclear negotiations.
From left, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond stand for a group photo prior to a meeting in Brussels on Monday, March 16, 2015. European Union foreign ministers hold talks with Iran¿s top diplomat on Monday to try to advance an agreement on the Islamic Republic¿s nuclear program two weeks ahead of a deadline for an accord to be reached. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini, second right, participates in a meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, fourth left, in Brussels on Monday, March 16, 2015. European Union foreign ministers hold talks with Iran¿s top diplomat on Monday to try to advance an agreement on the Islamic Republic¿s nuclear program two weeks ahead of a deadline for an accord to be reached. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini, right, greets Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif prior to a meeting in Brussels on Monday, March 16, 2015. European Union foreign ministers hold talks with Iran¿s top diplomat on Monday to try to advance an agreement on the Islamic Republic¿s nuclear program two weeks ahead of a deadline for an accord to be reached. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini, second right, participates in a bi-lateral meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, left, in Brussels on Monday, March 16, 2015. European Union foreign ministers hold talks with Iran¿s top diplomat on Monday to try to advance an agreement on the Islamic Republic¿s nuclear program two weeks ahead of a deadline for an accord to be reached. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini, left, speaks with British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond during a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the EU Council building in Brussels on Monday, March 16, 2015. The European Union is debating ways to back peace talks in Libya but is unlikely to launch any security mission until stability returns to the conflict-torn country. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
