Nuclear talks resume

Iran and the US are racing against the clock to close in on a nuclear deal, with US Secretary of State John Kerry saying it was “time to get it done” after 18 months of intense negotiations.

“If (Iran’s nuclear program is) peaceful, let’s get it done. And my hope is that in the next days, that will be possible,” Kerry, in Egypt but due to join the talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne later Sunday, says.

Added time pressure comes from the fact that Iran marks its new year on March 21, after which the country effectively closes down for 10 days. US Republicans are also teeing up legislation that could kill the whole process.

Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is due to make a closely watched speech next Saturday.

“We believe very much that there’s not anything that’s going to change in April or May or June that suggests that at that time a decision you can’t make now will be made then,” Kerry tells CBS television.

— AFP