Kerry: Nuclear Talks With Iran ‘Could Go Either Way’

The United States is nine days into intense nuclear negotiations with Iran with no end in sight, and according to a report from CTV News, the discussion is still completely up in the air.

Speaking to reporters outside of the Viennese palace hosting the U.S.-Iran discussion, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry indicated that the negotiations could still “go either way.” The United States is negotiating for a treaty that would end any chance of Iran ever creating a nuclear weapon – an agreement that some American officials call the only alternative to war.

“I want to absolutely clear to with everybody: We are not yet where we need to be on several of the most critical issues.”

“It is now time to see whether or not we are able to close an agreement.”

Secretary Kerry is technically representing a number of world powers in this negotiation with Iranian counterpart Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, and is hoping to close a deal by Tuesday for a decade of restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. If Iran can be convinced to agree, it will see significant relief from international sanctions in exchange.

As the Inquisitr has previously reported, the United States is prepared to take extreme action to disarm Iran, having prepared a massive 30,000 pound bunker buster bomb capable of destroying Iran’s Fordow uranium enrichment plant if all else fails, and as The Guardian reports, Iran’s citizens are chafing under the sanctions as cost-of-living continues to rise in the absence of foreign trade. Iran is under immense pressure to reach an agreement in these negotiations, but according to Kerry, they are still not close to arriving at an agreement, in spite of passing the original June 30 deadline.

“Over the last few days we have, in fact, made genuine progress. […] We have never been closer, [but] at this point this negotiation could go either way. If hard choices get made in the next couple of days, and made quickly, we could get an agreement this week. But if they are not made, we will not.”

Saturday, the talks seemed to be progressing well. Diplomats had reported a tentative agreement on the lifting of sanctions on Iran in both speed and scope. However, issues such as inspections and restrictions on Iran’s nuclear research and development remained contentious, and these are likely among the core issues halting progress.

“If we don’t have a deal, if there’s absolute intransigence with the things that are important, President Obama has always said we would walk away.”

[Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images]