Kerry & Zarif Meeting Update

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry & Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met for six hours on Saturday trying to overcome obstacles to a final nuclear agreement.  They were the first substantive talks since Iran struck an interim accord with the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China on April 2. The deadline for a deal between Tehran and six world powers is 30 June.

Reports: Reuters, Times of Israel, Haaretz 

Meanwhile, Iranian hardliners are put off by the chumminess between Kerry and Zarif.

P5+1 Renews Talks Today in Vienna; Secretary Kerry to meet with Oranian Team May 30th in Geneva

The Department of State issued a press release today announcing "Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman and the U.S. negotiating team will travel on May 27 to Vienna, Austria, to take part in the EU-coordinated P5+1 nuclear negotiations with Iran. On May 30, Under Secretary Sherman will join Secretary Kerry in Geneva, Switzerland, for meetings with Iranian officials. Under Secretary Sherman will then return to Vienna to continue to participate in the EU-coordinated P5+1 nuclear negotiations with Iran.

On a side note, CNN reports the lead U.S. negotiator, Undersecretary Wendy Sherman, is retiring. 

Czechs stopped potential nuclear tech purchase by Iran

Reuters posted an exclusive: The Czech Republic blocked an attempted purchase by Iran this year of a large shipment of sensitive technology useable for nuclear enrichment after false documentation raised suspicions, U.N. experts and Western sources said. The incident could add to Western concerns about whether Tehran can be trusted to adhere to a nuclear deal being negotiated with world powers under which it would curb sensitive nuclear work in exchange for sanctions relief.  Some details of the attempted purchase were described in the latest annual report of an expert panel for the United Nations Security Council's Iran sanctions committee, which has been seen by Reuters.