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Iranian regime: Final nuclear deal impossible by deadline

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It will be impossible for the 5+1 countries and the Iranian regime to reach a comprehensive agreement over Tehran’s nuclear issue by the Nov. 24 deadline, state-run news agency IRNA reported on Sunday.

The report quoted an unnamed member of the Iranian regime’s negotiating team as saying: “Considering the short time left until the deadline and number of issues that needed to be discussed and resolved, it is impossible to reach a final and comprehensive deal by Nov. 24.”

“The issue of extension of the talks is an option on the table and we will start discussing it if no deal is reached by Sunday night,” the person said.

The sides “were trying to reach a framework accord on major issues like … the number of centrifuges, enrichment capacity and the timeframe of lifting sanctions,” the official said.

The United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China began a final round of talks with the Iranian regime on Tuesday, looking to clinch a pact under which Tehran would curb its nuclear work in exchange for lifting economically crippling sanctions.

Meanwhile, another source in the Iranian regime’s delegation told RIA Novosti on Sunday that there are no discussions on possible extension of talks between Tehran and the P5+1 group.

“There are no discussions on the extension of talks on Iran. Everyone is working on reaching a political agreement. Iran is concentrated on it, and even during internal consultations there is no discussion on the extension of talks,” the source said.

CNN reported on Sunday both sides appeared to be pointing to the possibility of yet another extension to the months-long series of negotiations.

A senior U.S. State Department official on Sunday told CNN that “we are discussing the broad range of issues and we are continuing to take steps forward.”

But the progress being made is only “chipping away” at the issues, the official cautioned.

“The focus of discussions remains on an agreement, but we are discussing both internally and with our partners a range of options for the best path forward,” the official said.

The senior U.S. State Department official told CNN on Sunday that the Iranians “still have big decisions that need to be made.”