Iran negotiations drag on, leaving Obama in dilemma

Weary delegates return to table after deadline is extended, but 'path forward is really unclear'

US President Barack Obama's willingness to extend Iranian nuclear talks at least twice this week has laid bare the dilemma he faces as he pursues a high-stakes accord.

Walking away from negotiations would strip Obama of a legacy-shaping deal, deeply complicate international efforts to stop Iran's suspected pursuit of a bomb, and perhaps raise the specter of US military action against Teheran's nuclear installations.

But by blowing through self-imposed deadlines, Obama risks further antagonizing lawmakers who are poised to take their own action to upend a deal if they feel the president has been too conciliatory.

The initial response to the extensions from Republicans suggested they had already come to that conclusion.

"The longer the Obama administration stays at the negotiating table with Iran, the more concessions it makes," said Senator Ted Cruz, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said on Thursday that he is still uncertain whether a joint statement will be issued at the end of nuclear talks between Iran and world powers Thursday evening, official IRNA news agency reported.

"If the work goes well, a joint statement will be issued," Zarif said. "Of course, we are far from that point."

Intensive talks resumed on Thursday in Lausanne, Switzerland, two days after missing the March 31 deadline to close a framework agreement.

A senior Western official was downbeat, saying the talks were "at a tough moment and the path forward is really unclear". The official was not authorized to discuss the negotiations and demanded anonymity.

As the sides bore down on efforts to get a deal, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier canceled a planned visit to Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius was also back, less than a day after leaving the city.

The end-of-March benchmark was part of a two-pronged blueprint to bring the negotiations to a close. The US and its partners - Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China - aimed to reach a framework agreement on major issues by March, then finalize technical details by the end of June.

Israeli Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz said on Thursday that all options including military action were on the table in the face of the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.

AP - AFP