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Source: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/09/231724.htm
U.S.: Iran's Current Position in Nuclear Talks "Unacceptable"
(State Department) U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman said Tuesday: "An Iran armed with nuclear weapons would have the ability to project devastating power far beyond its borders, threaten Israel, and further assist violent extremists. If Tehran developed a nuclear weapon, other countries in the region might well pursue the same goal, generating a potentially catastrophic nuclear arms race....For these reasons, President Obama has pledged that Iran will not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon." "Since late last year, I have been leading the U.S. negotiating team that is seeking a diplomatic path to that objective....America's purpose in the negotiation is to develop a plan of lasting duration that would block all of the Islamic Republic's potential paths to a nuclear weapon." "We remain far apart on...core issues, including the size and scope of Iran's uranium enrichment capacity. I fully expect in the days ahead that Iran will try to convince the world that on this pivotal matter, the status quo - or its equivalent - should be acceptable. It is not....The world will agree to suspend and then lift sanctions only if Iran takes convincing and verifiable steps to show that its nuclear program is and will remain entirely peaceful."