Talks over Iran’s nuclear program at ‘make-or-break’ moment

THE WASHINGTON POST

By Brian Murphy November
The West is facing a “make-or-break moment” to reach a deal with Iran in nuclear talks, German’s foreign minister urged Tuesday after high-level negotiations failed to reach a breakthrough.

The appeal by Germany — part of a six-nation group in talks with Iran — underscores the growing pressures to reach a general pact before a self-imposed Nov. 24 deadline.

Talks resumed Tuesday in Oman’s capital Muscat with various envoys after meetings that included Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

A senior State Department official described the tenor of the Kerry talks as “tough, direct and serious,” but declined to characterize them as productive in any manner. The official said, however, that negotiators still believe it is possible to reach a comprehensive accord before the deadline.

Among the many issues is Iran’s level of uranium enrichment, which makes nuclear fuel. Iran claims it only seeks to power reactors for energy and medical research. The United States and allies fear the uranium enrichment could one day produce warhead-grade material.

In return for concessions, Iran is seeking an easing of international economic sanctions.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said its possible to reach “an agreement on general outlines” before the deadline, but gave no further details.

“We are not losing hope,” Araghchi was quoted by the Tehran-based ISNA news agency.

In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said failure to reach an accord before the deadline could set back negotiations by at least two years.

“We have never been closer [to an agreement] than right now. We have an opportunity . . . It is a make or break moment,’’ said Steinmeier, according to the Reuters news agency.

Kerry plans to brief President Obama on the nuclear talks during a Asian-Pacific summit in Beijing.