A top Russian official said he is confident world powers and Iran can reach a deal on Tehran’s nuclear program by a June 30 deadline.
Russia’s TASS news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Rybakov as saying he “categorically” wants to stop any talk of a deadline extension, and that it is “quite possible” to reach an agreement before the deadline.
“Nothing insurmountable in these negotiations,” he was quoted as saying.
With the self-imposed deadline approaching, the countries negotiating with Tehran - the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany - have two weeks to finalize details on how Iran's civil nuclear program will be allowed to move forward.
Saturday, Iran's president said a final nuclear agreement is "within reach" this month if no new issues arose.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the six countries of "accelerating concessions" to the Islamic Republic "in the face of Iranian stubbornness." The Israeli leader has staunchly opposed the talks in Geneva, spearheaded by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
In exchange for limiting its future nuclear development, Iran would expect the lifting of international sanctions that have curtailed its economy.
American and French diplomats have called for Iran to accept stringent measures, including inspection of its military facilities as well as nuclear inspections that could be set in motion with as little as two hours' notice.
