Iran responds to US warnings it might quit nuclear talks

A senior Iranian official responded sharply to warnings that Washington is ready to quit nuclear talks unless Tehran agrees to a deal that demonstrates it does not want atomic arms.

Ali Akbar Velayati said staying or leaving “depends on the Americans.”

Velayati was responding to US Secretary of State John Kerry, shortly before Kerry’s arrival Sunday to Geneva. Kerry said President Barack Obama was “fully prepared” to pull the US out before accepting a deal leaving Tehran with potent nuclear arms-making ability.

Their exchange may be an attempt to play to their home audiences but could also signal difficulties in the talks with only a month to go to a first-stage deal.

Kerry arrived in Geneva Sunday for a new round of talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif ahead of the March 31 deadline. Kerry warned that “significant gaps” remained between the two countries, and said that the US would not extend the talks beyond the deadline.

Iran says it does not want nuclear weapons but is negotiating in hopes of sanctions relief.