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Kerry in Paris for talks over Iranian nuclear programme

Diplomats race to seal deal with Iranians

US Secretary of State John Kerry landed in Paris Thursday for talks with the French and Saudi foreign ministers over a possible nuclear deal with Iran.

Mr Kerry arrived from London, where he had two days of Iran-related meetings with his British and Omani counterparts.

Meanwhile, high-level negotiations with the Iranians continued in Vienna, with diplomats racing to beat Monday's deadline to seal a deal.

US negotiators have embarked on a frenzy of high-stakes diplomacy in a push to secure agreement - or at least prevent the process from collapsing.

But despite their efforts, signs pointed to Monday's deadline passing without a deal and the negotiations being extended a second time.

However, Mr Kerry remained emphatic that any extension was not his aim.

"We are not talking about an extension. We are talking about getting an agreement," he said.

His Paris meetings with Laurent Fabius and Saud al-Faisal are significant because French objections last year delayed the adoption of an interim agreement by several weeks and because Saudi Arabia is hostile to any concessions by the US.

Even though the success of the talks hangs in the balance, the US remains determined to checkmate any and all involvement of Iran in nuclear development and seems equally convinced that Iran's intentions involve weapons.

Meanwhile, the region's only nuclear power showed little regard for diplomatic niceties.

Israeli Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz pressed negotiators not to sign a "bad" deal with Iran.

"Do not sign a bad deal with Iran that enables Iran to remain a threshold nuclear state," Mr Steinitz pleaded in Jerusalem.

He insisted that Tehran must not be allowed to maintain a large number of centrifuges, fearing its "capability to produce a nuclear weapon."

Mr Steinitz claimed that "all options" remained on the table - but did not say what other options Israel was suggesting.

Israel has long threatened military action against Iran to stop it reaching the nuclear weapons capability it fears its regional rival is dedicated to - despite Iran's constant denials.

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