Kerry: Time Running Short For Iran Nuke Agreement

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at a press conference during the Syrian peace talks in Montreux, Switzerland, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened the meeting saying that the... U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at a press conference during the Syrian peace talks in Montreux, Switzerland, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened the meeting saying that the peace talks will face "formidable" challenges for Syria. He called on the Syrian government and the opposition trying to overthrow it to negotiate in good faith. (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Salvatore Di Nolfi) MORE LESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry says time is running out for Iran to negotiate a comprehensive agreement on its nuclear program.

In a Washington Post opinion piece late Monday, Kerry says the July 20 deadline is fast approaching and that Tehran’s leaders face a choice: “They can agree to the steps necessary to assure the world that their country’s nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful … or they can squander a historic opportunity to end Iran economic and diplomatic isolation and improve the lives of their people.”

Kerry says substantial gaps still exist between what Iran’s negotiators say they are willing to do and what they must do.

He says a deal is still possible, but Iran must show a genuine willingness to respond to the international community’s legitimate concerns.

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