BICOM

Talks between Iran and the P5+1 continued yesterday in Vienna as the country marked ‘nuclear technology day’ with warnings from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who spoke to a group of scientists and officials of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran. “No, our pursuit of nuclear science will never halt. We will not cede any of our gains in nuclear research and development and our negotiators must not allow the other side to bully Iran,” he said in remarks reported by the official IRNA news agency.

Khamenei was speaking as the sides met for a second day of talks in an attempt to work towards a long-term deal on Iran’s controversial nuclear programme. Western diplomats warned that ‘significant gaps’ between the two sides remain.

In remarks to the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Secretary of State John Kerry warned that the US would not stand by if Iran reaches a ‘break-out’ in its nuclear programming. Responding to questions on the issue Kerry said, “I think it’s public knowledge today that we’re operating with a time period for a so-called ‘break-out’ of about two months,” Kerry said. “That’s been in the public domain.” Iran’s decision to break out would be a “huge, consequential decision” that would prompt US President Barack Obama to “respond immediately,” he added.

The next round of talks will begin in Vienna on 13 May.