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Iran nuclear talks extended for 7 months amid impasse ahead of deadline Iran nuclear talks extended for 7 months amid impasse ahead of deadline
(35 minutes later)
VIENNA — Nuclear talks with Iran will be extended for seven months after a series a intense negotiations failed to reach a comprehensive accord but appeared to make critical headway to keep negotiations alive, diplomats said Monday. VIENNA — Nuclear talks with Iran will be extended for seven months after intense negotiations failed to yield a comprehensive accord but appeared to make critical headway, diplomats said Monday.
The new target of June 30 — set just hours before a midnight Monday deadline — came after negotiators from Iran and a six-nation group agreed to move forward toward a general framework on an accord. The new target of June 30 — set just hours before a Monday midnight deadline — came after negotiators from Iran and a six-nation group agreed to move toward a general framework on an accord.
“Substantial progress was made,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the TASS news agency. “Substantial progress was made,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the Tass news agency.
Despite the failure to find common ground before Monday’s deadline, the extension was framed by diplomats as a chance to build on momentum achieved in the latest rounds, and concentrate on working out specific ways to implement and enforce a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program. Despite the failure to find common ground before Monday’s deadline, diplomats framed the extension as a chance to build on momentum achieved in the latest rounds and concentrate on working out specific ways to implement and enforce a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program.
But the missed deadline also could give a boost to critics of the deal-making in both Tehran and Washington. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the extension as a chance to possibly tighten pressures on Iran.But the missed deadline also could give a boost to critics of the deal-making in both Tehran and Washington. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the extension as a chance to possibly tighten pressures on Iran.
The stakes are now elevated on all sides.The stakes are now elevated on all sides.
Diplomats involved in the talks have set clear markers ahead. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said negotiations would resume in December and a “headline agreement” is expected within three months. Diplomats involved in the talks have set clear markers ahead. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that negotiations would resume next month and that a “headline agreement” is expected within three months.
After that, technical details would be worked out before the end of June, said Lavrov. After that, technical details would be worked out before the end of June, Lavrov said.
As early as Sunday, Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, agreed to open discussions on continuing the talks past the target date. As early as Sunday, Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif agreed to open discussions on continuing the talks past the target date.
Details of the apparent strides made in the latest round were not immediately disclosed. But the consensus to push forward on a quick timetable suggests that some important gaps may have closed. Details of the apparent strides made in the latest round were not immediately disclosed. But the consensus to push forward on a quick timetable suggests that some important gaps may have been closed.
Iran seeks to have the sanctions significantly eased in exchange for concessions, but it insists it will not give up the ability to enrich uranium to make fuel for nuclear power plants and a medical research reactor. Iran seeks to have the sanctions significantly eased in exchange for concessions, but it insists that it will not give up the ability to enrich uranium to make fuel for nuclear power plants and a medical research reactor.
The United States and allies want to limit Iran’s enrichment capabilities and step up international monitoring to ensure that Iran does not move toward a nuclear weapon in the future. Iran has repeated said it does not seek nuclear arms — citing a fatwa, or religious degree, by the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that rejected atomic weaponry. The United States and allies want to limit Iran’s enrichment capabilities and step up international monitoring to ensure that Iran does not move toward a nuclear weapon in the future. Iran has repeatedly said that it does not seek nuclear arms — citing a fatwa, or religious degree, by the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that rejected atomic weaponry.
Still, negotiations have moved only incrementally since resuming in 2012. Among the stumbling blocks: Iran’s resistance to allow unfettered international inspections at sites linked to suspected tests linked to nuclear arms technology. Still, negotiations have moved only incrementally since resuming in 2012. Among the stumbling blocks: Iran’s resistance to allow unfettered international inspections at sites linked to suspected tests connected with nuclear arms technology.
In one possible step forward, however, Iran has reduced its stockpile of low-enriched uranium gas and taken other action to comply with an agreement reached last year, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Monday.In one possible step forward, however, Iran has reduced its stockpile of low-enriched uranium gas and taken other action to comply with an agreement reached last year, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Monday.
Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the extension was a relief for members of Congress who suspected that a deal was near without sufficient roadblocks to Iran’s possible path to build nuclear weapons. Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the extension was a relief for members of Congress who suspected that a deal was near without sufficient roadblocks on Iran’s possible path to build nuclear weapons.
“There has been a real sense of foreboding that the administration was rushing too quickly,” Dubowitz said.“There has been a real sense of foreboding that the administration was rushing too quickly,” Dubowitz said.
Iran’s unwillingness to budge in the final week of talks, he added, “confirms congressional fears — repeatedly expressed — that Iran is just going to run out the clock.”Iran’s unwillingness to budge in the final week of talks, he added, “confirms congressional fears — repeatedly expressed — that Iran is just going to run out the clock.”
For the Obama administration, the talks represent a diplomatic initiative of high priority.For the Obama administration, the talks represent a diplomatic initiative of high priority.
Failure to strike a deal has serious potential costs, officials say, such as triggering a nuclear arms race among Iranian rivals such as Saudi Arabia and closing channels between Tehran and Washington at a time when they share a common enemy in the Islamic State militants. Failure to strike a deal has serious potential costs, officials say, such as triggering a nuclear arms race among Iranian rivals such as Saudi Arabia and closing channels between Tehran and Washington at a time when they share a common enemy in the Islamic State militant group.
In Israel, meanwhile, Netanyahu welcomed the failure of world powers to reach an accord with Israel’s archfoe. Netanyahu, meanwhile, greeted the failure of world powers to reach an accord with Israel’s arch-enemy.
Netanyahu wants tough economic sanctions to remain in effect until a deal is in place that would “dismantle Iran’s capacity to make atomic bombs.” The Israeli leader wants tough economic sanctions to remain in effect until a deal is in place that would “dismantle Iran’s capacity to make atomic bombs.”
“No deal is better than a bad deal,” Netanyahu told the BBC. “The deal that Iran was pushing for was terrible. A deal would have left Iran with the ability to enrich uranium for an atom bomb while removing the sanctions.”“No deal is better than a bad deal,” Netanyahu told the BBC. “The deal that Iran was pushing for was terrible. A deal would have left Iran with the ability to enrich uranium for an atom bomb while removing the sanctions.”
But Netanyahu added: “Israel is watching very carefully what is happening here, and Israel always — always — reserves the right to defend itself.” But he added: “Israel is watching very carefully what is happening here, and Israel always — always — reserves the right to defend itself.”
With talks moving into a new phase, other critics also could gain added leverage.With talks moving into a new phase, other critics also could gain added leverage.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani now appears likely to face increased criticism from hard-liners who oppose making any deal with the United States and who portray his efforts to get sanctions lifted as a futile quest. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appears likely to face increased criticism from hard-liners who oppose making any deal with the United States and who portray his efforts to get sanctions lifted as a futile quest.
In Washington, President Obama will confront a Congress controlled by Republicans in January that may resist any deal that eases the pressure on Tehran.In Washington, President Obama will confront a Congress controlled by Republicans in January that may resist any deal that eases the pressure on Tehran.
Iran has had a nuclear program since the 1950s, developed with the help of the United States before the 1979 revolution that ousted the shah of Iran. Iran has had a nuclear program since the 1950s, developed with the help of the United States before the 1979 revolution that ousted the shah.
Now, it has about 10,000 working centrifuges and another 9,000 not yet in operation — far more than the hundreds that Iran possessed more than a decade ago. Iran always has denied it wants to make nuclear weapons and signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1970. Now, it has about 10,000 working centrifuges and 9,000 not yet in operation — far more than the hundreds that Iran possessed more than a decade ago. Iran has always denied that it wants to make nuclear weapons, and it signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1970.
Iran maintains that it must retain the capacity to enrich uranium to fuel nuclear power plants that have not yet been built, and its leaders view Western-imposed limits as an attempt to block Iran’s economic development. Iran maintains that it must retain the capacity to enrich uranium to fuel nuclear power plants that have not yet been built, and its leaders view Western-imposed limits as an attempt to block the country’s economic development.
But many nations are skeptical and want to prevent Iran from being able to enrich uranium covertly. That is why the negotiators want monitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to have wide-ranging access to Iran’s nuclear plants and labs, many of which already are under scrutiny.But many nations are skeptical and want to prevent Iran from being able to enrich uranium covertly. That is why the negotiators want monitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to have wide-ranging access to Iran’s nuclear plants and labs, many of which already are under scrutiny.
But Iran has not given the IAEA all the access it wants, and the agency has said it cannot verify that Iran is not enriching uranium in secret. But Iran has not given the IAEA all the access it wants, and the agency has said that it cannot verify that Iran is not enriching uranium in secret.
Murphy reported from Washington. Ruth Eglash in Jerusalem contributed to this report.Murphy reported from Washington. Ruth Eglash in Jerusalem contributed to this report.