LOC02:22
23:22 GMT
WASHINGTON, July 20 (KUNA) -- The US believes that Iran's current position amid nuclear talks shows it "has no interest" in returning to the deal with the P5+1 countries aimed at curbing its uranium enrichment, according to the State Department on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press briefing, State Department spokesman Ned Price warned of a "deadline" after which a deal, currently being negotiated with Tehran, is "no longer in our (US) national security interest."
The terms of the tabled agreement with Iran, which "has been on the table for some months," is being negotiated in "good faith" with the US, alongside the European Union, Russia and China, he said.
This potential deal would place the "most stringent verification and monitoring program ever negotiated" on Iran, he said, leading to the US relief of sanctions placed on Tehran, if compliance was assured.
If inked, the draft agreement would also put the US and its allies "in a better position vis a vis the challenge of Iran's nuclear program than our present circumstance," he went on to say.
However, he warned that "if Iran makes clear that it has no intention of doing so, and the deal that is on the table is obviated by Iran's continuing advancements in its nuclear program, we will pursue another path." (end)
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