Significant gaps remain in Iran nuclear talks: Obama

US President Barack Obama today said "real progress" has been made in several areas in talks with Iran over its controversial nuclear programme but "still significant gaps" remain and more work needs to be done to reach a deal on the issue.
"It is clear to me that we have made real progress in several areas and that we have a credible way forward," Obama said.
Negotiations between the so-called P5+1 countries comprising US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany and Iran, enters a into the last phase in Vienna as the interim deal expires on July 20.
"As we approach a deadline of July 20th under the interim deal, there are still some significant gaps between the international community and Iran, and we have more work to do.

So over the next few days, we'll continue consulting with Congress -- and our team will continue discussions with Iran and our partners -- as we determine whether additional time is necessary to extend our negotiations," he said.
The US President has been briefed by the Secretary of State John Kerry at the White House yesterday afternoon after the latter returned from nuclear negotiations in Vienna.

"Over the last six months, since the Joint Plan of Action took effect, we've made tangible progress on a range of key issues in our negotiations with the Iranians. Both the Iranians and the United States and the other members of the P5+1 have made good on the Joint Plan of Action," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said.

That means that progress on Iran's nuclear program has been halted and rolled back in some key respects, and we have been negotiating in good faith to try to reach an agreement. There are some gaps that continue to remain, he said.
Earnest said it is clear that their track record over the last six months has been surprisingly favorable and there has been a legitimate discussion and constructive engagement between Iran and the P5+1.
"There were a lot of people who were pretty skeptical about that six months ago. That skepticism was justified, but the fact is there have been constructive conversations," he said, adding that there has been a willingness on the part of both the Iranians and the P5+1 partners to live up to the agreement.

The successful implementation of the Joint Plan of Action has allowed the international community's concerns about the Iranian nuclear program to be eased at least a little bit that's because we have seen Iran live up to that Joint Plan of Action to halt any progress that they've made as it relates to their nuclear program. And in fact, as a part of the Joint Plan of Action, they've even rolled back some key aspects of that program, he said.
"But nonetheless, there are four days that remain before the deadline and the fact is there are still gaps that remain.

So there are a number of paths forward for all of the parties to consider," he added.