Baku-APA. The United States will struggle to secure a framework nuclear deal between Iran and major powers by a March 31 deadline, due to resistance from Tehran and scepticism among other countries, officials said, APA reports quoting Reuters.
With the two sides resuming negotiations this week, Washington is under heavy pressure as it pushes for the political framework accord that would lay the foundations for a full deal with Iran by June 30.
The aim is to curb Iran's sensitive nuclear activities for at least a decade in exchange for an end to sanctions that have crippled its economy. However, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected the idea of two accords, fearing a framework agreement would remove Tehran's ability to negotiate on details, Iranian officials say.
France, which blocked an interim deal in 2013 until changes were made, has doubts about trying to secure the framework agreement at the talks in Lausanne, Switzerland. It has suggested focusing on the June deadline.
"(Saying that) an agreement has to be reached by the end of March is a bad tactic," French Ambassador to Washington and former nuclear negotiator Gerard Araud said last week, warning against putting "pressure on ourselves to conclude at any price".
Israel, Saudi Arabia, France and the U.S. Congress have all raised concerns that the administration of President Barack Obama might be willing to conclude a deal that would allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapons capability in the future.
Israel is believed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal and has in the past threatened Iran with military attack.
The talks are expected to start on Thursday with a meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Ministers from some other members of the six power group are expected to arrive later.
The Obama administration admits the task will not be easy. "We believe we can get a political framework done by the end of March," a senior U.S. official told Reuters. "It doesn't mean we'll get there, but we're not working for anything less."
Iran's semi-official Fars news agency cited an Iranian official as saying that something less substantial would emerge. "It is very likely that they sign a joint statement in Lausanne and not an agreement," the official said.
Officials from some of the six powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - have echoed this view with some suggesting a memorandum of understanding could be agreed.
"The aim is to get a sort of memorandum of understanding that would be enough for Americans to take to Congress and the Iranians to keep to Khamenei's demand," said a Western diplomat involved in the talks.
"The aim is to get something out by Sunday, although the deadline is March 31."
A senior European official also said that this week will not be the "end game" in the long-running negotiations, but will help to achieve an "understanding on the key issues, key parameters".
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the agreement would only be done when all the technical details were agreed and there was quite a lot of work to be done.
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