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Still seeking n-deal with Iran by November deadline: US

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IANS Washington

The US Tuesday said it was still exploring the possibility of reaching a comprehensive deal over Iran's nuclear programme by the next month deadline.

State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki made the comment as the cut-off date approaches while months-long negotiations between the major powers and Iran have stalled over disputes on Iran's future uranium enrichment activities and the timetable for sanctions on Tehran to be lifted, Xinhua reported.

"We're just not gonna get into ruling in or out things at this point in time," Psaki replied when asked whether another extension of the deadline would be considered.

"Our focus remains on determining whether it's possible to reach an agreement by Nov 24," she told reporters at a daily news briefing, adding "We believe -- continue to believe -- we have the time needed to get a deal done."

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry is scheduled to meet Wednesday his counterparts from the European Union and Iran in Vienna for a trilateral meeting, while negotiators from the six powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the US and Germany -- will meet Iranian officials for fresh talks Thursday in the Austrian capital.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani indicated Monday that talks with the major powers would continue in the event of a failure to ink a comprehensive deal by the November deadline.

In July, Iran and the six powers agreed to extend the negotiations for another four months till Nov 24 as they could not narrow down significant gaps on core issues during the past six months.

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First Published: Oct 15 2014 | 8:22 AM IST

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