Kerry cancels travel to pursue talks with Iran

(Vatican Radio) With a Monday deadline on the horizon and no agreement in sight in talks on Iran’s nuclear program, United States Secretary of State John Kerry cancelled his travel plans late Friday to remain in Vienna and push for a resolution.

Listen to the report:

Talks between Mr Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif continued in Vienna into late Friday, as they tried to work toward a lasting agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.

Six world powers—including the US, the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China—want Iran to scale back its nuclear program and ensure it is not building nuclear weapons. In return, the UN sanctions against Iran would be lifted.

This last round of talks began on Tuesday, but with only two days left before the deadline on Monday and no breakthrough in sight, Mr. Kerry cancelled his flight to Paris at the last minute Friday to remain in Vienna. The director of the U.S. State Department's press office Jeff Rathke says the situation is fluid and refused to confirm travel plans for Mr Kerry.

“He’s had a variety of consultations this week in advance of arriving in Vienna. He’s there now. Clearly, he’s in touch with his counterparts, both in the P5+1 and internationally, and with a team in Washington,” he said.

Despite concerns voiced by the United Nations, world leaders, and international watchdogs about suspicious military activities in Iran that could be linked to a nuclear weapons program, the Iranian government continues to claim its program is solely energy-related. Iran has been resisting efforts to scale back its nuclear program for nearly a decade.

The Monday deadline fast approaching, some officials are already saying the deadline may have to be extended yet again.