U.S. may extend Iran nuclear talks
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Vienna (CNN) -- The United States might extend a deadline to reach a comprehensive agreement on Iran's nuclear program, a senior State Department official told CNN.
International negotiators in Vienna, Austria, are scrambling to reach a deal by Monday's deadline.
"It is only natural that less than 48 hours from the deadline we are discussing a range of options," the official said. "An extension is one of those options."
Both sides appeared to be pointing to the possibility of yet another extension to the monthslong series of negotiations, whose final outcome is expected to have a lasting effect on Iran's relations with the West.
U.S. President Barack Obama, asked about the deadline in an interview broadcast Sunday morning on ABC's "This Week," didn't reject the idea.
"I think that what we're going to do is take a look at what emerges over the course of the weekend," he said.
When asked if Congress would approve any agreement with Iran, Obama said, "I'm confident that if we reach a deal that is verifiable and assures that Iran does not have breakout capacity, that not only can I persuade Congress, but I can persuade the American people that it's the right thing to do."
But media in Tehran were skeptical about the deadline.
Based on the differences that remain between negotiators, and in light of the limited time remaining, reaching a deal by Monday "would be impossible," the Iranian Students' News Agency reported Sunday, citing an unidentified Iranian official involved in the talks.
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U.S. may extend Iran nuclear talks