Iran, US clash over sanctions relief, inspections

As the March 31 deadline for a framework nuclear deal looms, significant gaps remain between the United States and Iran, according to European and American officials.

The New York Times reported that last-minute disagreements revolve around when sanctions would be removed and how inspections would be carried out.

Iran continues to demand that sanctions be lifted immediately upon the completion of a deal. But gradually removing sanctions needs the approval of the UN Security Council, and requires US President Barack Obama to waive American measures.

The complete lifting of sanctions must ultimately be approved by the US Congress, which has taken a much harder line on nuclear negotiations than the White House, and is unlikely to approve an immediate end to sanctions.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is traveling to Lausanne, Switzerland for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday night.

But they continue to clash over other key issues. The US wants to be able to inspect all nuclear sites after a deal, including ones located on military bases. Iran’s military continues to oppose such a provision.

The US and five other world powers known as the P5+1 want restrictions to last for ten years, but Zarif has said the pact should expire after seven years.

On Saturday, Kerry said that talks have made progress, but there were still “important gaps” that remain to be sorted.

Kerry, who is attending a three-day international investors conference in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, said the purpose of these talks was “not just to get any deal, it is to get the right deal”.

“We made some progress, but there are still some gaps, important gaps.”

Kerry said he can’t say whether the US and other world powers will be able to reach a framework deal with Iran before the March 31 deadline.

Kerry said he needs to speak with Iran’s foreign minister to assess the effects of a letter from Republicans in the US Congress to Iran’s leaders. He said the letter undermined the Obama administration’s diplomatic effort.

Kerry also repeated the administration’s stand that it wants the right deal with Iran, not any deal.

Six world powers — the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany — aim by the end of this month to nail down the outline of a deal that would put making a nuclear bomb out of Tehran’s reach.

“The deadline is approaching. Time is critical,” said Kerry.

The parties hope to reach a full accord by July 1.

But Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has criticized the negotiations, and is to give a closely watched Iranian New Year’s address on March 21.

On Thursday Khamenei said the other side in the talks was “deceitful and stabs in the back,” according to Iranian news agency ISNA.

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