No deal on Iran's nuclear program, despite 'concrete progress'

 

Three days of intensive talks about Iran's nuclear program concluded early Sunday without an agreement, though key players insisted they believed the process is moving in the right direction.

"A lot of concrete progress has been achieved, but some differences remain," European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told reporters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif echoed that sentiment, saying "hopefully we will be able to reach an agreement when we meet again."

"I think we are all on the same wavelength, and that's important," Zarif said. "And that gives us the impetus to go forward."

The inclusion of top diplomats such as Zarif, Ashton and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry left some thinking that this latest meeting could lead to a breakthrough to satisfy the international community's desire that Iran not develop a nuclear weapon and, with that, a relaxation of crippling sanctions on the Middle Eastern nation.

That didn't prove to be the case this time, though the parties -- including Zarif and Ashton -- will meet again November 20.

Both Ashton and Zarif fielded questions posited on the assumption France blocked a resolution this time around. But neither singled out any one party, with the Iranian foreign minister saying differences among the countries are only "natural ... when we start dealing with the detail."

"We had a very good three days, a very productive three days," Zarif said. "And it's something that we can build on."

Kerry also voiced optimism, saying, "I can tell you, without any exaggeration, we not only narrowed differences but we made significant progress. ...There's no question in my mind that we are closer now."

At the same, the top U.S. diplomat cautioned against jumping into any agreement that everyone is not comfortable with -- especially given the complicated, technical details to deal with and the need to "build confidence between countries that have really been at odds with each other for a long time now."

"Diplomacy takes time, and all the parties here need time to fully consider the issues," Kerry said.