Politics
U.S. President Barack Obama has told the Iranian people that a deal to transform the relationship between the two countries could be within reach, writes the BBC.
"We have the best opportunity in decades to pursue a different future between our countries," he said in a video message for Persian New Year. Six world powers are negotiating a deal aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear activity, with a March deadline near.
The president conceded there were still "gaps" in negotiations but was hopeful. "This moment may not come again soon," said Mr Obama in his message celebrating Nowruz. "I believe that our nations have an historic opportunity to resolve this issue peacefully - an opportunity we should not miss."
If Iran's leaders agreed to a reasonable deal, then the country would be on a path to prosperity, he said. Isolation awaited if agreement was not reached, he added. But the president has yet to convince the US Congress of the merits of a deal, and many lawmakers remain opposed to the easing of sanctions. Earlier this month, 47 Republican senators warned Iran's leaders that any deal on Tehran's nuclear programme could be revoked once Mr Obama leaves office.
The move was condemned by the White House as an attempt to undermine the president's foreign policy.
Leaders of Britain, France and Germany and the E.U.'s foreign policy chief met in Brussels on Friday morning for talks on Iran, an E.U. official said.
Diplomatic sources said the 40-minute meeting ahead of the second day of an EU summit focused on exchanging information on the state of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, according to Reuters.
One called it a "useful informal session on coordination and consultation".
The talks came after a senior European Union negotiator at talks in Switzerland said that six world powers, including Britain, France and Germany, are unlikely to reach a framework agreement with Iran on its nuclear work in the coming days as the sides are still far apart on key issues.
