Kerry: Negotiations with Iran Will Not Be Extended Without a Comprehensive Agreement

John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, has stated that any extension of nuclear negotiations with Iran to reach a comprehensive agreement after late March is off the table unless a framework and outline of an agreement is established by then. In an interview with NBC News aired on Sunday, February 8, he said, "The only chance I see for an extension of negotiations at this point is if we have a real plan for an agreement." Iran and the U.S., along with the U.K., France, Russia, China, and Germany, the members of the 1+5 group, reached a temporary agreement in Geneva in November 2013 to resolve the Iranian nuclear dispute. Since then, both sides have been negotiating to reach a final agreement. Iran and the 1+5 group have extended the deadline for reaching an agreement twice since the temporary Geneva agreement in November 2013. The current deadline for reaching an agreement is set for June, and a political agreement is expected by March 24. John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, discussed matters on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday. They met again on Sunday for further negotiations. Following this meeting, Zarif stated that extending negotiations would yield no results. Meanwhile, Kerry has emphasized the importance of reaching initial agreements on a plan for extending negotiations. However, he has also stated that he prefers to reach a conclusion within the set timeframe. Kerry remarked, "But if we cannot make a fundamental decision on this in the coming weeks, I think extending the negotiations will be impossible." The U.S. Secretary of State said, "Either you decide to prove that your (nuclear) program is peaceful, or you are unable to do so, which likely indicates a story none of us want to hear." While the U.S. Secretary of State has stressed the necessity of achieving a comprehensive plan for an agreement by the end of March, Ali Khamenei, the leader of Iran, stated on Sunday that "the agreement on the generalities and details must be done in one stage and with clear and unambiguous provisions." Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister stated on Sunday that "if we do not reach an agreement, it will not be the end of the world," adding that they will continue what they wish to pursue, making efforts until the deadline, and that extending time will not be effective and will yield no results. Mohammad Javad Zarif also expressed, "I do not think extending negotiations again would benefit anyone, and I do not believe that an extension is necessary or useful."