Russian negotiator: Iran deal may be struck ‘within hours’

A deal that would put curbs on the Iranian nuclear program in exchange for eased sanctions could be hashed out within the next few hours, Russia’s deputy foreign minister told reporters Thursday.

A US official said US Secretary of State John Kerry was to give a statement to update reporters about ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran at 5 p.m. GMT Thursday. Kerry will speak after a meeting with foreign ministers from global powers seeking to nail down a deal.

As several deadlines for the agreement have come and gone, pressure has mounted from the international community for an accord to be struck.

US President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the chances of a deal going through are “less than 50-50.” But Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was more optimistic Thursday.

“I allow for everything: I even allow that the deal could be reached in the next couple of hours,” he told reporters at a BRICS summit in the Russian city of Ufa.

Ryabkov, who leads the Russian delegation at the nuclear talks, made the comment shortly after a telephone conversation between his country’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and US Secretary of State John Kerry.

“On the basis of the principles of gradualism and reciprocity, we have come close to a final agreement. It is within the bounds of the attainable,” Lavrov told Kerry.

Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, plus Germany — on Tuesday effectively gave themselves until Friday to reach a deal by extending a November 2013 interim accord, after missing two target dates in this latest round of roller-coaster talks.

In another hint that the talks might soon wrap up, the White House late Wednesday issued a brief statement saying Obama had conferred with the US negotiating team through a secure video call. The last time Obama held a secure conference call with his negotiators on the road was shortly before the framework for a final accord was reached on April 2 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Kerry said in a tweet that he and the others were “continuing to discuss difficult issues” and “working diligently to see if agreement possible.”

If a deal with Iran is not reached by Friday morning, the US Congress’s review period doubles from 30 to 60 days, giving opponents more time to reject it. During that time the president cannot waive congressional sanctions, the most painful ones for Iran.

If they do reject it, then Obama has 12 days to accept or veto the ruling. Congress would then have another 10 days to override the veto, meaning the entire process could take up to 82 days.

Times of Israel staff, AFP and AP contributed to this report.