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Iran nuclear negotiations set to escalate ahead of key deadline

By Andrew V. Pestano
Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif continue their negotiations about the future of Iran's nuclear program during a one-on-one meeting on Jan. 23, 2015, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. File Photo by U.S. State Department/Flickr
Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif continue their negotiations about the future of Iran's nuclear program during a one-on-one meeting on Jan. 23, 2015, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. File Photo by U.S. State Department/Flickr

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, March 30 (UPI) -- Nuclear negotiations with Iran are speculated to intensify on Monday as officials hope to reach an agreement before a self-imposed deadline.

The negotiations, taking place in Lausanne, Switzerland, are being held by foreign ministers from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and Germany with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

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A self-imposed Tuesday night deadline to agree on a political framework was set so talks over technical details on a comprehensive accord can begin ahead of a June 30 deadline. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry cancelled plans to appear at a Boston tribute for the late Sen. Ted Kennedy on Monday to join the negotiations.

Leaders hope for a breakthrough after almost 18 months of negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, which Iran continues to say is peaceful. Western officials want to impose limits that would prevent Iran from producing enough material to create a nuclear weapon within a year.

"We are here because we believe a deal can be done," U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told reporters on Sunday night. "But it has to be a deal which puts the bomb beyond Iran's reach. There can't be any compromise about that."

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Western officials want Iran to suspend the most sensitive nuclear work for more than 10 years. The number of centrifuges are also part of the negotiations, with Iran originally insisting on keeping 10,000 operating but dialing back to as low as 6,500.

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