Iran, US trade blame over failed nuclear deal

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran and the United States today blamed each other for the failure to reach agreement on a deal to limit Iran's uranium enrichment in exchange for an easing of Western sanctions.

In spite of the accusations, there was some diplomatic progress as Iran promised to offer more information and expanded access to U.N. nuclear inspectors — including more openings at a planned reactor and uranium site.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Iranian envoys had backed away from a wider deal this weekend seeking to ease Western concerns that Tehran could one day develop atomic weapons.

Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, countered by criticizing Kerry's remarks, telling an Iranian TV talk show that the American's "conflicting statements" damaged confidence in the process, adding that "considerable progress was made" in Geneva.

The flurry of announcements and comments showed both the complexities and urgency in trying to move ahead on an accord between Iran and world powers after the talks in Geneva failed to produce a deal.