VIENNA (AP) — An ambitious round of nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers ended Friday with serious setbacks, with a senior Iranian official saying the two sides are at odds on several key issues.
Both sides were supposed to start drafting a final agreement that the six hope will constrain Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran in turn is seeking a full lifting of sanctions.
But Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iranian media Friday that differences were too big to start the drafting process. He gave no immediate details beyond saying that both sides were apart on several issues.
“There was no tangible progress in this round of the talks,” Araqchi said. “We will have one or two more rounds of talks in June. Talks will continue.”
Talks began Feb. 18 on a comprehensive deal meant to constrain Iranian nuclear work that can make such arms in exchange for full sanctions relief on Tehran’s economy. Araqchi said there was still hope a final deal can be reached before July 20, the target date for a comprehensive deal.
Iran denies any interest in nuclear weapons, saying its enrichment program is meant only to make reactor fuel. But because the technology can also create weapons-grade uranium for warheads depending on the level of enrichment, Washington and its allies want strict constraints on its size and scope.
The dispute over enrichment surfaced less than two months before the July 20 target date for a deal and follows encouraging signs of progress on less contentious issues in earlier rounds that had raised hopes that a pact could be sealed by then.
Diplomats say there is a tentative agreement to re-engineer a partially built reactor so that it would produce less waste plutonium — material that also can be used for the core of a nuclear weapon.
They also say Iran is ready in principle to sign an agreement with the UN atomic agency that would allow its experts to visit any declared nuclear site at very short notice, investigate suspicions of undeclared nuclear activity and push for deeper insight into all atomic work.
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Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.
WarSclerotic 
May 17, 2014 at 9:17 AM
After decades of no talking at all, it’s a very positive development that both parties are now talking eye-to-eye for many months already. And as long as they’re talking, an attack on Iran is impossible. Win win for everyone.
May 17, 2014 at 4:07 PM
ya a win win for iran no talking for decades . what were those meetings in the past all about that ended up nowhere ? I have a few questions maybe someone can answer them ?why do they need ballistics missiles they meant to carry nukes ? What were Iranian scientist doing at north korea nuke test ? What about Parchin is there something to hide and why the clean up there ? Why do they need reactors when they siting on a ocean of oil and gas ? Can they get the nuclear material from Russia who wanted to supply them with it ? What about the secret nuclear sites that were exposed ? What about this death to America BS and wiping Israel off the face of the map? It be nice to have truthful answers !
May 17, 2014 at 3:39 PM
Renbe this may be the biggest whopper you’ve told yet!
Iran has always been talking to the West! Democrats and Republicans presidents have all tried to cut deals with this bloodthirsty regime in spite of the fact they took our diplomats hostage for 444 days under Carter (who was just as pathetic and weak as our current president)!
Iran even cut a deal with Zero back in 2009 just like 2013 (how quick Zero’s supporters forget that)!
And the US embassy in Iran is now used as a military facility by the Iranians!
Iran has talked and talked their way to the bomb. Anyone who doesn’t think Iran has nukes already is deluding themself!
May 17, 2014 at 3:41 PM
Oh and by the way, the vast majority of US casualties in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were due to Iran also. Iran built tons of IEDs to kill our people there.
But Zero is “talking” to Iran so all is forgiven, right?
May 17, 2014 at 4:11 PM
Mark right on ! you spoke the truth !