Iran nuclear talks: John Kerry cancels US return

The State Department confirmed that Mr Kerry would be staying in Lausanne for more talks.

Foreign ministers from six world powers are trying to reach a deal with Iran to restrict its nuclear programme in return for an easing of sanctions.

They are working towards a self-imposed deadline of 31 March.

Mr Kerry had been looking forward to attending an event to honour his late Senate colleague Edward Kennedy, but had decided to stay at the ongoing talks with Iran in Switzerland, the State Department said.

At the talks in Lausanne, Mr Kerry is already joined by the German and French foreign ministers as well as his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

The foreign ministers of Russia, China and the UK are due to arrive at the talks on Sunday as they go into their final three days before the end of March deadline.

Negotiators from the P5+1 group - the five permanent member of the UN Security Council plus Germany - want to ensure that Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons.

Iran denies it is aiming to build nuclear weapons and is hoping that a deal will lead to an end of international sanctions imposed on Tehran.

On Saturday, Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that after 12 years of negotiations with Iran the talks had entered their "endgame".

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that progress was being made.

At the talks in Lausanne, Mr Kerry is already joined by the German and French foreign ministers as well as his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

The foreign ministers of Russia, China and the UK are due to arrive at the talks on Sunday as they go into their final three days before the end of March deadline.

Negotiators from the P5+1 group - the five permanent member of the UN Security Council plus Germany - want to ensure that Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons.

Iran denies it is aiming to build nuclear weapons and is hoping that a deal will lead to an end of international sanctions imposed on Tehran.

On Saturday, Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that after 12 years of negotiations with Iran the talks had entered their "endgame".

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that progress was being made.

 

(BBC)