US State Department spokeswoman Psaki said that the US remained "very focused on making progress in talks with Iran and on signing an agreement by the November 24 deadline.MOSCOW, November 10 (Sputnik) The talks inOman onIrans controversialnuclear programwere tough, direct and serious, US Department ofState spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Monday.
Thetalksinvolved EU diplomat Catherine Ashton,USSecretary ofState John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Psaki said her country remained "very focused onmaking progress intalks withthe Islamic Republic and onsigning the agreement bythe November 24 deadline.
"There is still time todo so," she told reporters.
The meeting betweenthe three foreign policy chiefs wrapped upthe second day oftalks inthe run-up tobroader negotiations betweenIran, EU's Ashton and P5+1, which includes Russia, the United States, Britain, France, China, and Germany.
The trilateral meeting was called toaddress major differences that have been hindering a comprehensive agreement. On Sunday, the three envoys discussed Iran's uranium enrichment program and the possibility ofeasing WesternsanctionsagainstTehran.
The talks betweenIran and the group ofsix powers will continue onTuesday inthe city ofMuscat, Oman.
The West has accused Iran ofattempting tobuild nuclear weapons underthe guise ofa civilian nuclear program, while Tehran argues that its nuclear ambition is tomeet the country's growing energy needs and achieve other peaceful goals.
Last January the United States agreed toprovide limited sanctions relief if Iran froze its nuclear program. Since then, Iran has halted production and opened the door tointernational inspectors.
In November 2013, duringtalks held inGeneva, the P5+1 group agreed toreach a deal withthe Tehran delegation, guaranteeing the peaceful nature ofthe Iranian nuclear program byJuly 2014. The deadline was later extended toNovember 24, 2014.
By Sputnik News
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