An agreement is “difficult, but possible," on Iran’s nuclear program, a senior Obama administration official said Monday.
“We all understand the responsibility of what we’re doing here. This is difficult – if it weren’t difficult it would have been solved a long time ago,” the official said while speaking to reporters on condition that his or her name not be made public. “It is still possible to do it all, difficult, but possible.”
Talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers, which includes the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the US, France, Russia, China and the UK – plus Germany, and Iran are set to resume in Vienna on Tuesday. Under the current guidelines, a deal must be reached by November 24.
The official said that an "extension is not and has not been a subject of negotiations at this point" and added that “we have made more progress than anyone would have expected” in what was described as “tough” and “direct” discussions.
Key for the US is that Iran, which it accuses of covertly seeking a nuclear weapon, curb its nuclear program, closing all potential paths to a weapon, and open up its program to rigorous international monitoring.
“Right now is the time for Iran to back up its words, and the Supreme Leader’s fatwa, with credible and verifiable actions that they have not sought, and have no intention to seek a nuclear weapon,” the official said.
Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Coupled with low oil prices, the country’s economy has sagged under the weight of sanctions from the US and its allies. The Islamic Republic has insisted that the measures be lifted as an end result to the talks.
In the flurry of diplomatic activity leading up to this week's final push, Secretary of State John Kerry met with EU and Iranian officials in Oman last week. A group of US negotiators stayed in the capital of Muscat to meet with P5+1 political directors.
