US, Iran seek nuclear breakthrough as deadline nears

The United States and Iran began high-level talks in Oman Nov. 9 ahead of a looming deadline for a deal on Tehran's nuclear programme, with both sides under pressure at home.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry started a meeting with Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif to try to close substantial gaps before November 24, when an interim agreement is meant to be turned into a comprehensive long-term settlement.

The meeting follows the revelation that U.S. President Barack Obama reportedly wrote to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to push for a deal, arguing the Islamic republic and the West have shared regional interests.

The apparent reference to the fight against Islamic State group militants in Syria and Iraq, however, was played down by Kerry in Beijing on Nov. 5, with the U.S. diplomat saying "there is no linkage whatsoever" with the nuclear talks.

Despite the approaching deadline, Iran and the P5+1 group - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany - are far apart on what capabilities Iran's nuclear programme should have.

The West has as yet been unconvinced by Iran's denials that it has never sought a nuclear weapon, while Tehran insists its atomic activities are for peaceful, civilian energy purposes only.

 A deal, for the West, aims to put a bomb forever beyond Iran's reach.        

Kerry and Zarif began their talks on Nov. 9 with former EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also present.

At issue is the number of uranium-enriching centrifuges Iran should be allowed to keep spinning in exchange for sanctions relief and rigorous inspections at its nuclear sites.

Iran wants "industrial grade enrichment" beyond its current capabilities...