Iran nuclear deal ‘possible’ in coming days

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry expressed hope Saturday that major world powers would clinch a deal with Iran in the coming days on Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.

Six world powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany -- aim by the end of this month to nail down the outline of a deal that would prevent Tehran from making a nuclear bomb.

The parties hope to reach a full accord by July 1.

“We believe very much that there’s not anything that’s going to change in April or May or June that suggests that at that time a decision you can’t make now will be made then,” Kerry told CBS television.

“My hope is that in the next days that will be possible,” he added during the interview recorded in Egypt on the eve of a new round of talks in Switzerland.

The interview, excerpts of which were provided by the network, was due to air in full on Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation” program.

Kerry, speaking during a three-day international investor conference in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, said that if Iran’s nuclear program is indeed “peaceful,” as Tehran claims, “let’s get it done.”

The negotiations are entering their final phase, with Kerry due to meet his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Lausanne, Switzerland on Sunday after the Sharm el-Sheikh conference ends.

During an earlier press conference, the top U.S. diplomat showed caution when asked about the chances of clinching a successful deal.

The purpose of the Iran talks is “not just to get any deal, it is to get the right deal,” he stressed.

“We made some progress, but there are still some gaps, important gaps.”

The agreement aims to set guarantees about the peaceful nature of Tehran’s nuclear program, controls at Iranian installations, the duration of the accord and dates for gradually lifting sanctions choking Iran’s economy.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has criticized the negotiations, and is due to give a closely watched Iranian New Year’s address on March 21.