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          Kerry Meeting With Iranian FM With Deadline for Nuclear Deal

   by VOA News

   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohmmad
   Javad Zarif have begun face-to-face talks in Oman just two weeks ahead
   of a deadline for reaching a nuclear deal.

   European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is also taking
   part in Sunday's talks.

   Kerry and Zarif shook hands but made no comments to the media as they
   prepared to begin their discussions in Oman's capital, Muscat.

   Speaking before departing Beijing on Saturday, Kerry said there are
   "real gaps" in talks to reach an agreement with Iran on its nuclear
   program. He also stressed that the nuclear negotiations are separate
   from other issues, including possible cooperation with Iran in the
   fight against Islamic State militants.

   President Barack Obama said last week that the United States, the other
   permament members of the U.N. Security Council (Russia, China, United
   Kingdom and France) and Germany have given Iran a framework for a
   nuclear agreement.

   He called the framework a step-by-step, verifiable way for Iran to get
   out from under crippling sanctions and rejoin the international
   community.

   But the president called it an "open question" whether the Iranian
   leadership will do what is best.

   The United States and the rest of the P5 plus 1 countries want Iran to
   curb its uranium enrichment abilities to keep it from being able to
   build a nuclear bomb. In exchange, the U.N. would lift economic
   sanctions.

   Iran has consistently denied wanting to build nuclear weapons.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-iran-meeting-nuclear-deal-deadl
   ine/2513522.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-iran-meeting-nuclear-deal-deadline/2513522.html