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AP Photo/Mark Wilson, Pool US military forces listen to U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel speaking at Tactical Base Gamberi in eastern Afghanistan, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014.

The Obama administration is considering slowing its planned withdrawal from Afghanistan for the second time, according to U.S. officials, a sign of the significant security challenges that remain despite an end to the U.S. and NATO combat mission there.

Under the still-evolving plans, Army Gen. John F. Campbell, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, could be given greater latitude to determine the pace of the drawdown in 2015 as foreign forces scramble to ensure Afghan troops are capable of battling Taliban insurgents on their own, the officials said.

The options under discussion would not alter what is perhaps the most important date in President Obamas plan: ending the U.S. military mission entirely by the time he steps down in early 2017.

But Campbell might temporarily retain more than the 5,500 troops slated to remain in Afghanistan at the end of 2015, keep regional training hubs open longer than planned or reorganize plans to close bases including Kandahar Airfield, a major endeavor that would draw troops away from efforts to advise Afghan security forces.

Campbell and top Obama aides are expected to discuss the options at a White House meeting Wednesday.

The defining elements of the plan are more or less intact, a senior administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss planning. All were looking at at this point is either variations within those or subtle variations of the current framework.

Officials hope to finalize a decision before Afghan President Ashraf Ghani visits Washington in March. Ghani has appealed to Obama to reexamine his drawdown schedule.

We are cognizant of the fact that weve got to get in front of the so-called spring fighting season in Afghanistan and provide allies time to make their own troop plans, the official said.

Campbell already faces a tight timeline for the twin mission he commands in Afghanistan, a NATO effort to advise Afghan security forces and a separate U.S. program that conducts limited operations against al-Qaeda and other militants.

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U.S. may slow exit of troops from Afghanistan

President Obamas State of the Union Address pushes Russian and Iran Closer
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President Obamas State of the Union Address pushes Russian and Iran Closer - Video

Iran News in Brief - 3 February 2015
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Iran News in Brief - 3 February 2015 - Video

SYDNEY - Australia faced increased pressure to reform its immigration system after a report on Wednesday showed more than a third of refugee children detained under those policies had developed a mental illness requiring psychiatric care.

SARAJEVO - Bosnia's parliament approved Denis Zvizdic as prime minister on Wednesday after he promised to unblock the Balkan country's stalled bid to join the European Union and push through reforms sought by the bloc.

10:41am EST

ATHENS - Cyprus's former interior minister and his son were jailed in Greece on Wednesday for helping a leading Greek politician take millions of euros in kickbacks from arms deals, according to court officials and documents.

11:01am EST

BEIRUT - President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday the goal of Iran's negotiations with world powers on its nuclear program was a "win-win" outcome, a further signal that Tehran could accept a compromise to defuse a stand-off that has raised fears of war.

ZURICH - The Swiss government on Tuesday proposed draft law to limit immigration following a controversial popular vote, but said it is seeking talks with the European Union in order not to violate bilateral treaties including free movement of people.

10:05am EST

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Tehran, Iran Iranmarked the anniversary of its 1979IslamicRevolutionon Wednesday with massive rallies, with many chanting against the U.S. and Israel as the country tries to reach a permanent deal with world powers over its contested nuclear program.

State television aired footage of commemorations in Tehran and elsewhere across the country. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, addressing a crowd of thousands in Tehran, pledged to "spare no effort" to protect theIslamic Republic's rights as it negotiates.

"The sanctions have not forcedIranto enter the talks but the impracticality of the all-out pressures onIranand the significant advancements inIran'speaceful nuclear program made the United States come to the negotiation table," Rouhani said. "Iranis seeking a 'win-win' outcome in the nuclear talks with world powers."

Tayyebeh Ahmadi, a woman who attended the rally, said the nuclear talks likely inspired Iranians to take part in commemorations.

"This year, we have turned out bigger than before because of the ongoing nuclear talks to make America understand that it cannot achieve its goals in these talks," Ahmadi said.

In recent years,Iranhas used the anniversary of theIslamicRevolutionto demonstrate against the West over its sanctions for the country's disputed nuclear program. The West fearsIran'snuclear program could allow it to build nuclear weapons.Iransays its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, like power generation and medical research.

Iranreached an interim, one-year deal with the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany in November 2013 to freeze its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of some sanctions. Negotiators later agreed to extend talks until June 30, with hopes of reaching a rough deal in March.

Wednesday's events commemorate Feb. 11, 1979, when followers of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ousted U.S.-backed Shah Reza Pahlavi. America helped orchestrate the 1953 coup that overthrewIran'spopularly elected prime minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, which brought Pahlavi to power and set the stage for decades of mistrust between the countries.

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Iran marks Islamic Revolution anniversary with massive rallies, amid nuke talks