This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-30172923
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Iran nuclear deal: Deadline day brings talk of extension | Iran nuclear deal: Deadline day brings talk of extension |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Diplomats from six world powers and Iran are making a final push to agree a deal over Iran's nuclear programme before a 23:00 GMT deadline. | |
| They said earlier major differences remained, suggesting an extension could be agreed at the talks in Vienna. | |
| The US, UK, Russia, China, France and Germany want Iran to curb its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of UN sanctions. | |
| Tehran says it is not seeking nuclear weapons, but wants atomic energy. | Tehran says it is not seeking nuclear weapons, but wants atomic energy. |
| "At the moment, we are focused on the last push... to try and get this across the line," British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said. | "At the moment, we are focused on the last push... to try and get this across the line," British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said. |
| "Of course, if we're not able to do that, we will then look at where we're going from there." | "Of course, if we're not able to do that, we will then look at where we're going from there." |
| A senior US state department official told reporters: "It is only natural that just over 24 hours from the deadline we are discussing a range of options... an extension is one of those options." | A senior US state department official told reporters: "It is only natural that just over 24 hours from the deadline we are discussing a range of options... an extension is one of those options." |
| The delegates could also set out a framework of a deal that would be finalised later. | The delegates could also set out a framework of a deal that would be finalised later. |
| Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that "if the West does not make excessive demands, an agreement is within reach", according to Iran's Resalat newspaper. | Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that "if the West does not make excessive demands, an agreement is within reach", according to Iran's Resalat newspaper. |
| Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has arrived in Vienna, meaning the foreign ministers of all of the so-called P5+1 group are now in attendance. | Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has arrived in Vienna, meaning the foreign ministers of all of the so-called P5+1 group are now in attendance. |
| He told reporters at the Palais Coburg hotel. where the talks are being held, that he had "come with a Chinese proposal for settling the various focal issues". | He told reporters at the Palais Coburg hotel. where the talks are being held, that he had "come with a Chinese proposal for settling the various focal issues". |
| Analysis: Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editor, Vienna | Analysis: Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editor, Vienna |
| Success would do much to lift Iran's isolation - which would change the strategic balance in the Middle East. That intrigues some Western diplomats. It horrifies Saudi Arabia and Israel. | Success would do much to lift Iran's isolation - which would change the strategic balance in the Middle East. That intrigues some Western diplomats. It horrifies Saudi Arabia and Israel. |
| A year ago in Geneva all sides in the talks saw an opportunity to deal with an issue that could potentially cause another catastrophic war. That will make them very reluctant to leave Vienna empty-handed - even if that means they will have to do more work on the details next year. | A year ago in Geneva all sides in the talks saw an opportunity to deal with an issue that could potentially cause another catastrophic war. That will make them very reluctant to leave Vienna empty-handed - even if that means they will have to do more work on the details next year. |
| Time is limited though. Hardliners in Tehran and Washington DC will try to sabotage any agreement. Both see no reason to dilute their mutual suspicion. | Time is limited though. Hardliners in Tehran and Washington DC will try to sabotage any agreement. Both see no reason to dilute their mutual suspicion. |
| Intense negotiation | Intense negotiation |
| When US Secretary of State John Kerry met his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday - their sixth encounter in four days of talks - an extension was discussed, according to an unnamed Iranian source who spoke to AFP news agency. | When US Secretary of State John Kerry met his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday - their sixth encounter in four days of talks - an extension was discussed, according to an unnamed Iranian source who spoke to AFP news agency. |
| The proposed agreement hinges on the rate at which the sanctions against Iran would be lifted if Tehran agreed to highly specific limits on the amount of uranium it could enrich. | The proposed agreement hinges on the rate at which the sanctions against Iran would be lifted if Tehran agreed to highly specific limits on the amount of uranium it could enrich. |
| Highly enriched uranium can be used to make a nuclear bomb, but uranium enriched to lower levels can be used for energy purposes. | Highly enriched uranium can be used to make a nuclear bomb, but uranium enriched to lower levels can be used for energy purposes. |
| Under the terms of international treaties, countries have the right to develop nuclear energy, which Iran insists is its only aim. | Under the terms of international treaties, countries have the right to develop nuclear energy, which Iran insists is its only aim. |
| Under an agreement reached in Geneva last year, Iran was to curb some of its uranium enrichment in return for sanctions relief. | Under an agreement reached in Geneva last year, Iran was to curb some of its uranium enrichment in return for sanctions relief. |
| However, the two sides failed to reach a lasting deal by July, as initially agreed, and extended the deadline until 24 November. | However, the two sides failed to reach a lasting deal by July, as initially agreed, and extended the deadline until 24 November. |
| US President Barack Obama acknowledged on Sunday that "significant" gaps between the two sides remained, and that President Rouhani had "to deal with his politics at home". | US President Barack Obama acknowledged on Sunday that "significant" gaps between the two sides remained, and that President Rouhani had "to deal with his politics at home". |
| "He's not the ultimate decider inside of Iran, the Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] is," Mr Obama told US broadcaster ABC. | "He's not the ultimate decider inside of Iran, the Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] is," Mr Obama told US broadcaster ABC. |
| Earlier on Sunday Iranian sources told BBC Persian in Vienna that a "political agreement" might be reached before the deadline. | Earlier on Sunday Iranian sources told BBC Persian in Vienna that a "political agreement" might be reached before the deadline. |
| However, an extension of six months to a year "would not fly" with the other parties, Arms Control Association analyst Kelsey Davenport told AFP. | However, an extension of six months to a year "would not fly" with the other parties, Arms Control Association analyst Kelsey Davenport told AFP. |
| Any extension would "have to be very short because there are too many hardliners, particularly in Washington and Tehran, that want to sabotage this deal", she added. | Any extension would "have to be very short because there are too many hardliners, particularly in Washington and Tehran, that want to sabotage this deal", she added. |
| Potential obstacles | Potential obstacles |
| Uranium enrichment: Western states want to reduce Iran's capacity in order to prevent it acquiring weapons-grade material but Tehran is set on expanding it nearly 20-fold in the coming years | Uranium enrichment: Western states want to reduce Iran's capacity in order to prevent it acquiring weapons-grade material but Tehran is set on expanding it nearly 20-fold in the coming years |
| Sanctions reduction: Iran wants sanctions lifted immediately but Western states want to stagger their removal to ensure Tehran abides by its commitments | Sanctions reduction: Iran wants sanctions lifted immediately but Western states want to stagger their removal to ensure Tehran abides by its commitments |
| Bomb technology: Iran has failed to explain explosives tests and other activity that could be linked to a nuclear weapons programme and has denied international nuclear inspectors access to its Parchin military site | Bomb technology: Iran has failed to explain explosives tests and other activity that could be linked to a nuclear weapons programme and has denied international nuclear inspectors access to its Parchin military site |
| Both Saudi Arabia and Israel are also vehemently opposed to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal visited Vienna at the weekend, though his country is not formally involved in the talks. | Both Saudi Arabia and Israel are also vehemently opposed to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal visited Vienna at the weekend, though his country is not formally involved in the talks. |
| He and Mr Kerry talked in his plane parked on the Vienna Airport tarmac on Sunday, diplomats told AP news agency. | He and Mr Kerry talked in his plane parked on the Vienna Airport tarmac on Sunday, diplomats told AP news agency. |
| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country has not ruled out bombing Iran's nuclear facilities, told Mr Kerry by phone that a deal which left large parts of the facilities intact would be a "historic mistake". | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country has not ruled out bombing Iran's nuclear facilities, told Mr Kerry by phone that a deal which left large parts of the facilities intact would be a "historic mistake". |