VIENNA — Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday tamped down growing optimism that agreement is near over a nuclear deal with Iran, saying that negotiations “can go either way” as a Tuesday deadline approached.

“I want to be absolutely clear,” Kerry told reporters after exiting a session with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, his third of the day. “We are not yet where we need to be on several of the most difficult issues.”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says “hard choices” must be made for a deal with Iran to be made by Tuesday. The Associated Press

He spoke as diplomats here entered the final hours of more than 18 months of negotiations that will establish a new relationship between Iran and global powers or collapse amid recriminations and threats to world peace.

Foreign ministers from the five countries partnering with the United States in the talks were due to arrive later Sunday in the Austrian capital, in the hope that a deal will be ready for them to discuss and endorse. Tuesday was set as the deadline after negotiators failed to meet an initial date of June 30.

All sides say they are close to finalizing a comprehensive agreement that would place limits on Iran’s nuclear activities and prevent it from producing a nuclear weapon, in exchange for the lifting of international economic sanctions.

Kerry said he agreed with Zarif’s assessment on Friday that the two sides “have never been closer” to a deal. But he appeared to be trying to play down any untoward optimism.

“If hard choices get made in the next couple of days, and made quickly,” Kerry said, “we could get an agreement this week. But if they are not made, we will not.… In the coming hours and days, we’re going to go as hard as we can.”

His remarks seemed at least indirectly addressed to Iran, as well as to U.S. critics who have accused the administration of capitulating to Iran on key issues. “If we don’t have a deal, if there’s absolute intransigence, if there’s not willingness to move on things that are important, President Obama has always said we would walk away,” Kerry said.

“We want a good agreement, only a good agreement. And we’re not going to shave anywhere at the margins in order just to get an agreement. This is something that the world will analyze,” he said, adding that “none of us … intend to do something that can’t pass scrutiny.”

Kerry began a fourth Sunday meeting with Zarif shortly after 8 p.m.

Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the Arms Control Association, said she was still “optimistic” that a deal could be finalized by Tuesday. Although Kerry was clearly seeking to “manage expectations,” she said, “only a small number of manageable issues on sanctions and inspections remain, on which there has been progress.”

Negotiators have been trying in recent days to fill in the blanks of a framework agreement reached in early April. There are differences over the two main issues – the level of inspections and verification that Iran keeps its side of the bargain – as well as the pace and scope of sanctions relief Iran will get in exchange.

“Extending the talks is not an option for anyone,” Iranian negotiator Abbas Araghchi told Iranian TV late Saturday. Negotiations were continuing in “a positive atmosphere,” he said. “We are trying to finish the job.”

“If we reach an agreement that respects our red lines, then there will be a deal,” Araghchi said. “Otherwise, we prefer to return home to Tehran empty-handed.”

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