Kerry: ‘Very tough issues’ to face as clock ticks on Iran deal

Secretary of State John Kerry said “very tough issues” remain as international negotiators hold what could be their final round of talks to get a deal over Iran’s nuclear program.

Speaking to reporters in Vienna on Saturday, Kerry said both sides are “hopeful” to reach an agreement.

“We have a lot of hard work to do. We have some very tough issues, and I think we all look forward to getting down to the final effort here to see whether or not a deal is possible,” Kerry said. 

{mosads}“I think that everybody would like to see an agreement, but we have to work through some difficult issues,” he added.

Kerry’s Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, struck a similar note.

“I agree maybe not on the issues, but on the fact that we need to work really hard in order to be able to make progress and move forward,” he said.

“We’re determined to do everything we can in order to be able to make this important milestone, but that depends on a lot of things and we’re going to work on them,” according to Zarif.

Iran and Western powers have given themselves until Tuesday to strike a bargain that would curb Tehran’s nuclear effort in exchange for sanctions relief.

Last month, the president signed into law a bill that gives Congress 30 days to disapprove any final deal, during which he could not lift congressional sanctions on Iran. If Congress votes to reject the deal, the administration would have 12 days to veto the resolution of disapproval. Congress would then have 10 extra days to try to override the veto.

Several GOP senators have voiced strong opposition to any potential long-term deal in recent weeks.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) recently sent letter to President Obama, calling the reported concessions that the administration has made to Iran as part of the talks “breathtaking.”

On Thursday, Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) introduced legislation that would extend an Iran sanctions bill, currently set to expire next year, through 2026.