The US secretary of state and his Iranian counterpart have held five
hours of talks in Switzerland, as the deadline for a framework deal
approaches.
Monday's meeting in Lausanne between John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif is part of a diplomatic push by the two sides to come up with the outlines of an agreement by the end of March.
A full accord is due by July 1.
"If [Iran's nuclear programme is] peaceful, let's get it done. And my hope is that in the next days, that will be possible," Kerry told American CBS television on Sunday.
There were, however, "important gaps", he said.
Kerry and Zarif plan to regroup in Lausanne on Tuesday. The U.S. secretary of state is to return to Washington by week's end for talks with Afghanistan's leaders, and the Iranians plan to break for the Persian New Year. Officials say talks might restart sometime next week, if necessary. A deal would also require the approval of America's negotiating partners: Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.
With little time remaining before the end of March, some officials have said the persistent differences mean negotiators will likely settle for an announcement that they've made enough progress to justify further talks.
Monday's meeting in Lausanne between John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif is part of a diplomatic push by the two sides to come up with the outlines of an agreement by the end of March.
A full accord is due by July 1.
"If [Iran's nuclear programme is] peaceful, let's get it done. And my hope is that in the next days, that will be possible," Kerry told American CBS television on Sunday.
There were, however, "important gaps", he said.
Kerry and Zarif plan to regroup in Lausanne on Tuesday. The U.S. secretary of state is to return to Washington by week's end for talks with Afghanistan's leaders, and the Iranians plan to break for the Persian New Year. Officials say talks might restart sometime next week, if necessary. A deal would also require the approval of America's negotiating partners: Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.
With little time remaining before the end of March, some officials have said the persistent differences mean negotiators will likely settle for an announcement that they've made enough progress to justify further talks.
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