Iran talks bump into March 31 deadline as Lavrov departs

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov left talks on Iran's nuclear programme and will only return if an accord is in sight, suggesting that negotiations will continue into the final hours before a March 31 deadline.

Diplomats said obstacles remain after foreign ministers from the six powers jointly met Iranian envoys for the first time in the latest round of talks in Lausanne, Switzerland. Lavrov will return if there's a "realistic understanding of a deal," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"The main thing that gives us optimism is the determination of all the ministers to reach a result without taking a pause," said Lavrov's deputy, Sergei Rybakov. Russia sees positive signals at the talks, Dmitry Peskov, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, said in Moscow.

After a 12-year standoff, negotiators are divided over the pace of easing sanctions on Iran and the limits to be imposed on its nuclear programme. A framework accord by March 31 would be a step toward ending Iran's economic isolation, though another three months are envisaged to reach a detailed final agreement.

Talks are stuck on how to roll back sanctions and how to reimpose them should Iran violate the agreement, a European diplomat said after Monday's plenary meeting. No decision has been made on how to dispose of Iran's enriched uranium, which is essential to ensuring that its nuclear program is exclusively peaceful, a US official said by e-mail Monday, asking not to be named in line with diplomatic rules.