Secretary of State John F. Kerry dampened hopes for a quick conclusion of nuclear talks with Iran on Thursday, saying negotiators would not be hurried by a looming congressional deadline.
"We should not get up and leave simply because the clock strikes midnight," Kerry said in a statement to reporters outside the hotel here where talks have been taking place. "We will not rush, and we will not be rushed," he said.
While the talks have not yet produced an agreement, "we are not going to sit at the negotiating table forever," Kerry said. "We believe we are making real progress toward a comprehensive deal.