. . .

Q And on the Iran front. Where do things stand with pushing on the sanctions? And then the second question is, there's been some confusion about whether -- is Iran a supportive actor of what we're doing in Afghanistan or are they part of the problem? I mean, how much do you believe they're playing a role in the insurgency in Afghanistan?

MR. GIBBS: Let me get some guidance from the NSC on the second part. On the first part, Chuck, the President will -- continues to actively work with our partners in the P5-plus-1 in order to -- in order to continue to ask the Iranians to live up to their obligations.

Q Are those negotiations still active? That hasn't been shut down, sort of -- has it moved to the U.N.?

MR. GIBBS: But again, that's -- it's not up to the P5-plus-1. It's not up to us. It's up to the Iranians, right. They've got a certain set of obligations that they've always had. Those obligations can be met at any time by the Iranians. Failure to meet those obligations, as the President and others have said, will result in next steps.

Q Have they failed -- I guess -- I've heard this failure -- have they failed to meet these? Have you guys determined --

MR. GIBBS: As of right now, yes.

Q Right now they have failed and therefore you're moving on to step -- plan B?

MR. GIBBS: Well, again, I think we've talked largely about the fact that time is running out, that that -- hold on, hold on -- that the sand in the --

Q -- is going to run out.

MR. GIBBS: Well, running.

Q Okay.

MR. GIBBS: The sand in the hourglass is running out. As of this moment -- minus anything that these guys tell me has happened since I've been up here -- have they failed to meet their obligations? Absolutely. They've failed to meet their obligations --

Q And therefore you go to plan B?

MR. GIBBS: That's why we would move to next steps.

Q But you haven't yet.

MR. GIBBS: Not yet.

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