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Kerry: Negotiations over Iran's nuclear program face several 'difficult issues'

The statement comes two days before the deadline for a comprehensive agreement between Iran and the P5+1 countries.

By Fred Lambert
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 January 23, 2015, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. On July 5, 2015 -- two days away from a deadline for an agreement -- Kerry said both sides still disagreed on "several of the most difficult issues." 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 January 23, 2015, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. On July 5, 2015 -- two days away from a deadline for an agreement -- Kerry said both sides still disagreed on "several of the most difficult issues." File photo by U.S. State Department/Flickr

VIENNA, July 5 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday said both sides still disagree about "several of the most difficult issues" in talks over Iran's nuclear program.

The statement comes amid a looming July 7 deadline for a comprehensive agreement between Iran and the P5+1 countries -- the United States, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and Germany -- over Iran's nuclear capability.

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The deadline had last week been extended to July 7 after a private meeting between Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. Kerry at the time said negotiations had "reached a very delicate stage."

"It is now time to see whether or not we are able to close an agreement," The Wall Street Journal quoted Kerry as saying from Vienna on Sunday. "But I want to be absolutely clear: We are not yet where we need to be on several of the most difficult issues."

Zarif last week said in a YouTube video that both sides have "never been closer to a lasting outcome."

"Getting to yes requires the courage to compromise, the self confidence to be flexible, the maturity to be reasonable, the wisdom to set aside illusions and the audacity to break old habits," Zarif said.

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Kerry appeared to echo that sentiment on Sunday but said the "negotiation could go either way," and that the United States would walk if met by last-minute Iranian "intransigence."

"If hard choices get made in the next couple of days -- and made quickly -- we could get an agreement this week," The Wall Street Journal quoted Kerry as saying. "But if they are not made, we will not."

Iran has been at odds with the West over its nuclear program for years, asserting that serves peaceful purposes. The P5+1 have sought assurances of this claim and limits on Iran's nuclear capability in return for an alleviation of economic sanctions.

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