World powers insist Iran deal still possible

BERLIN: The world powers in Berlin insisted it was still possible to revive the Iran nuclear deal but said “time is running out.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that negotiators working in Vienna to salvage the 2015 accord with Tehran had seen “modest progress in the last couple weeks” but were taking nothing for granted.

“My own assessment, talking to all of our colleagues, is that returning to mutual compliance, it remains possible,” Blinken said.

Speaking at a joint news conference, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said “urgent progress” was needed in talks aimed at rescuing the deal.

“The window for finding a solution is closing,” she said.

“The negotiations are in a decisive phase. We need urgent, urgent progress, otherwise we will not be successful in reaching a joint accord.”

Her French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, also in Berlin for talks focused primarily on the Ukraine crisis, warned that “the negotiations cannot go on so slowly” with Tehran.

He complained that the progress in the meetings was “partial, timid and slow”, adding it was crucial to now “pick up the pace” or risk failure.

Blinken agreed it was a “decisive moment” in the negotiations, adding “time is running out” to reach a deal.