(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) President Barack Obama will keep his diplomatic team in Vienna for the nuclear negotiations with Iran for as long as the discussions remain useful, White House Spokesperson Josh Earnest indicated on Thursday.
"As long as the talks continue to be useful, Secretary (of State John) Kerry, Secretary (of Energy Ernest) Moniz and others will be deeply engaged in trying to reach a final agreement", he told reporters.
"But if those talks don't appear to be useful anymore and there does not seem to be a constructive engagement on the part of the Iranians to resolving the remaining sticking points in the negotiations, then the president won't hesitate to bring his team home." Earnest asserted, "We continue to have confidence that the terms of the political agreement that were reached in Lausanne will be the parameters of a final agreement if one can be reached in Vienna." In response to reports that Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif yelled at each other due to rising tensions, Earnest said, "I'm not particularly surprised to read those reports of patience wearing a little thin, but if it is wearing then, I'm confident it's for the right reasons."
He continued, "Everybody sitting around that table understands that the stakes are high, they understand that these talks are serious and have significant consequences. And I don't anticipate that any sort of personal frustrations will inhibit the ability of our negotiators to reach an agreement." (end) ak.ibi
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