Elements are falling into place for an agreement to allow talks on Iran’s nuclear program to continue another seven months, a well-placed Western diplomat said Monday to the Associated Press.
The Western diplomat told The Associated Press that according to the deal, a broad agreement should be completed by March 1, with the final details worked out by July 1.
The diplomat, speaking on anonymity, is familiar with the discussions now taking place in Vienna to continue talks beyond the original deadline set for Monday, November 24 at midnight.
Both sides are trying to reduce differences at the negotiating table, but also working on how long to extend the talks.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif agreed Sunday to discuss the extension after the difficulties of bridging differences between them would be hard to do before the deadline.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday negotiators were still having “consultations” on a final agreement that meets both U.S. demands for strict curbs on Tehran’s nuclear program and Iran’s push for sanctions relief. Yi also suggested that moves toward an immediate deal had not yet been abandoned, the Associated Press reports.
International negotiators worry that Iran is using its nuclear development program as a cover for developing nuclear weapons. However, Iran claims that it is only interested in investing in nuclear power.
Wang arrived Monday, the Associated Press reports, joining the foreign ministers of the other countries in negotiations with Iran – the U.S., Russia, Britain, France, and Germany, in a top-level diplomatic effort to push the talks forward.
