VIENNA (Reuters) - A senior U.S. official said on Friday it is unclear whether Iran is ready to take the steps necessary to assure the world its nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful as a July 20 deadline in negotiations between Tehran and six powers looms.
After the week-long round of talks ended, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters that the powers were making "excessive demands". The six want Iran to reduce the scope of its uranium enrichment programme in exchange for a phased lifting of international sanctions imposed on it. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, who has been leading the U.S. team in the negotiations with Iran, said the fifth round of Vienna talks produced a "working document" that is "heavily bracketed" due to remaining disagreements, making clear much work remains to reach a deal.