WASHINGTON: The United States is seeking concrete commitments from Iran in order to reach a nuclear deal that can be shown to the US Congress and public, the White House said on Wednesday.

“We certainly would want, and expect, that if a deal is completed, it will include tangible, specific commitments that have been made by the Iranians”, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said.

His comments followed a New York Times report that Iran is resisting a formal “framework” agreement and preferred a more general statement of “understanding” followed by a final accord in June.

World power negotiations with Iran are entering a crucial final week in Switzerland before a March 31 deadline for an agreement that would block its path to obtaining a nuclear weapon in return for sanctions relief.

US Secretary of State John Kerry departed on Wedn­esday for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2015

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