[Cuomo:] Welcome back to "NEW DAY". About 15 minutes past the hour. Secretary of State John Kerry says right now is the best chance they've had in a decade for a nuclear deal with Iran. A new round of talks began Wednesday in Geneva, more expected today. The main give and take is that the U.S. will loosen sanctions if Iran suspends part of its nuclear program. But there is fierce opposition to any deal both at home and abroad. CNN's Jim Sciutto is in Geneva with that. Good morning, Jim, what do we know?
[Jim Sciutto, Cnn Chief National Security Correspondent:] Good morning, Chris. This really is the money round. There's a sense from both sides they're close it a deal, but it's in these stages where they really have to work through the final issues, standing in the way. One of the members of the E.U. delegation telling us this morning, quote, that "they're locked in very tough negotiations here."
[Sciutto:] Negotiators return to Geneva with the same unresolved question, could they succeed where years of negotiations have failed with a breakthrough deal on Iran's nuclear program? As the talks got under way in Geneva, back in Washington, Secretary of State John Kerry said the administration is in no rush.
[John Kerry, Secretary Of State:] We will not allow this agreement, should it be reached and I say should it be reached to buy time or to allow for the acceptance of an agreement that does not properly address our core fundamental concerns.
[Sciutto:] The key sticking point to any final deal is how much of Iran's nuclear program will remain in place? The White House is comfortable with a peaceful program within strict limits and under strict verification. But its closest regional ally, Israel, insists Iran's program should be entirely dismantled. In Moscow, lobbying Russia to force a tougher deal, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited the ongoing destruction of Syria's weapons as a model. This sharp disagreement over Iran is causing deeper tension in the broader U.S.-Israeli relationship. Still, despite the split, administration officials maintain the two countries are on the same page when it comes to the final outcome.
[Jay Carney, White House Press Secretary:] There is no daylight between the United States and Israel when it comes to the objective of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
[Sciutto:] Still, whether an agreement can be reached that would assuage Israeli concerns, a permanent breach in the relationship remains very unlikely.
[Aaron David Miller, Woodrow Wilson International Center For Scholars:] Unlike Lehman Brothers, the U.S.-Israeli relationship really is too big to fail. And I suspect these differences over time will be accommodated, but not happily.
[Sciutto:] And it's not just Israel standing in the way. At the same time you have a push on Capitol Hill for new added sanctions against Iran, is the administration's position. If you add sanctions now, that will destroy the chance for talks here. But the administration feels it could only push off on other sanctions, push for another couple of weeks or so before the end of the legislative calendar this year. And that's why they believe that this is the window now to make a deal. If they're going to get through it, Kate, this is their chance to do it. But still a lot of issues standing in the way.
[Bolduan:] Clearly the pressure is on. We're going to be talking about this and much more, coming up, with the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations later in the show. Thank you so much, Jim, for the update. Now to a developing story out of North Korea, where an American tourist is being detained. The son of 85-year-old Merrill Newman says his dad, a Korean War veteran, was pulled from a plane by authorities as he was leaving the country back in October and he hasn't been heard from since. CNN's David McKenzie has more of the details. So what more are we learning, David?
[David Mckenzie, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, Kate, it's a very disturbing story. This Palo Alto native, Merrill Newman, 85 years old, he's a Korean War veteran. He was in Korea for a nine-day visit last month. On the evening before he left, apparently, he was hauled out by his North Korean government minder, some sort of discussion ensued, according to his family, then let's listen how it all went down after that. Listen to his son.
[Jeff Newman, Son Of Merrill Newman:] They went to dinner. It was Friday night. Next morning they got up, checked out of the hotel, went to the airport, got on the plane. Apparently five minutes before they were ready to depart, an authority came on the plane, looked at my dad, asked to see my dad's passport and he was asked to leave the plane.
[Mckenzie:] And Mr. Newman hasn't been heard from yet by his family. U.S. officials we've spoken to saying they're trying to give every assistance to this family. They are even trying to get medicine through the Swedish embassy into that country because Mr. Newman has a heart condition. Certainly very disturbing developments. And a further sign that Americans, including Kenneth Bae, who has been there for several months in North Korea, are not getting out anytime soon. And this will definitely develop in the coming days Kate and Chris.
[Bolduan:] Absolutely, David. Thank you so much. It's so disturbing because his son said he's been planning this trip for months. He's long been interested in the country and the culture. And he was really enjoying his time there. He had been sending postcards back and then now he's disappeared.
[Cuomo:] And it's one of those reasons, why, as uncomfortable as people get about having relations with what we sees as hostile countries, if you don't have them, and a situation like this happens, what do you do? We'll keep watching that, that's for sure. Coming up on "NEW DAY", Ted Cruz is and will be important in the Obamacare debate. And his interview got a lot of you people popping. So now there's real debate about the way forward. Tweet us and then watch our pros go at it.
[Bolduan:] When you talk about pros we're talking about Chris as well. Also ahead, A-Rod erupts. Alex Rodriguez storming out of a hearing yesterday and then blasting the commissioner of baseball. We'll tell you what he had to say about Bud Selig and his beloved Yankees.