Nuclear talks between powers and Iran resume in Geneva

Expectations of a preliminary deal for resolving the nuclear question at the resumed nuclear talks in Geneva Wednesday are slim although the spokesmen for the six powers and Iran voice cautious optimism about a breakthrough. Foreign minister Javad Zarif, warned by hardliners at home to stay away from Geneva, said there was every possibility of a successful conclusion. President Barack Obama said he didn’t know if a deal could be closed this week or next week, but the bulk of the sanctions regime would remain. "We are not doing anything around the most powerful sanctions. The oil sanctions, the banking sanctions, the financial services sanctions, those are the ones that have really taken a big chunk out of the Iranian economy," he said. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, insisting that the Iranians are giving away nothing, has refused to rule out military action against their nuclear program.