‘Productive’ talks, but no deal with Iran

The White House said Wednesday that talks over Iran’s nuclear program continue to be productive, but no deal has been reached. 

“While the talks have been productive, we have not yet received the specific, tangible commitments that the international community seeks,” press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters. 

{mosads}Negotiators from the U.S., Iran and five other world powers extended talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, into Wednesday, one day past a March 31 deadline to agree to a political framework.

The chief U.S. negotiator, Secretary of State John Kerry, will remain in Lausanne at least until Thursday morning to continue negotiations, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said.

Harf said the sides continue to make progress but have not reached a political understanding.

The parties are working on a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program and prevent it from building a nuclear weapon in exchange for lifting international sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy.

The White House is dealing with rising pressure from Congress to move legislation that would impose sanctions on Iran should negotiations fail.

Officials have threatened to veto new sanctions, as well as a bill to allow Congress to review any Iran nuclear deal, arguing they would torpedo the talks.

But Earnest indicated Wednesday the White House may be open to congressional action if a deal is not reached.

“If those negotiations break down and the Iranians walk away without demonstrating a willingness to make serious commitments, then that does bring some of those issues back into play,” he said.

Earnest would not say whether there is a set deadline to reach a deal, but said the U.S. and its international partners would walk away from the talks if they hit a standstill. 

The spokesman said that President Obama received an update on the talks this morning and will address the public whether or not a deal is reached.

The Associated Press reported that officials believe the talks will likely continue into Thursday because agreement on the outlines of a deal have proved elusive.

The parties at the talks faced a “tough struggle,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said, according to the AP.

Last updated at 3 p.m.

David McCabe contributed.