UK ‘not optimistic’ on Iran nuclear talks
AFP, Vienna :
Britain expressed doubts Wednesday that a nuclear deal could be reached with Iran by a looming deadline, as Tehran and six world powers haggled in a final round of talks in Vienna.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, speaking in Latvia, indicated the most to be hoped for was enough progress to justify putting yet more time on the clock beyond Monday’s cut-off point to get a deal.
“I am not optimistic that we can get everything done by Monday,” he said.
“But I think if we make some significant movement, we may be able to find a way of extending the deadline to allow us to get to the final deal, if we are making good progress in the right direction.”
He added: “There will need to be some considerable further flexibility shown by the Iranian negotiators over the next four or five days if we are going to get to that deal.”
Britain expressed doubts Wednesday that a nuclear deal could be reached with Iran by a looming deadline, as Tehran and six world powers haggled in a final round of talks in Vienna.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, speaking in Latvia, indicated the most to be hoped for was enough progress to justify putting yet more time on the clock beyond Monday’s cut-off point to get a deal.
“I am not optimistic that we can get everything done by Monday,” he said.
“But I think if we make some significant movement, we may be able to find a way of extending the deadline to allow us to get to the final deal, if we are making good progress in the right direction.”
He added: “There will need to be some considerable further flexibility shown by the Iranian negotiators over the next four or five days if we are going to get to that deal.”
