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Iran nuclear talks deadline extended to end of June | Iran nuclear talks deadline extended to end of June |
(35 minutes later) | |
The deadline for an Iran nuclear deal has been extended to the end of June after talks in Vienna failed to reach a comprehensive agreement. | The deadline for an Iran nuclear deal has been extended to the end of June after talks in Vienna failed to reach a comprehensive agreement. |
UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said good progress had been made, but it was "not possible to get an agreement by the [original] deadline". | UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said good progress had been made, but it was "not possible to get an agreement by the [original] deadline". |
Six world powers want Iran to curb its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions. | Six world powers want Iran to curb its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of 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. |
The six countries - the US, UK, Russia, China, France and Germany - have been in negotiations with Iran to finalise a preliminary deal reached last year in Geneva. | The six countries - the US, UK, Russia, China, France and Germany - have been in negotiations with Iran to finalise a preliminary deal reached last year in Geneva. |
Speaking after the Vienna talks had ended, Mr Hammond said that negotiations would resume in December, and would be extended until 30 June 2015. | Speaking after the Vienna talks had ended, Mr Hammond said that negotiations would resume in December, and would be extended until 30 June 2015. |
Iran would be allowed to continue accessing $700m (£450m) per month in frozen assets during that period. | Iran would be allowed to continue accessing $700m (£450m) per month in frozen assets during that period. |
Diplomats expect to reach a political agreement by 1 March, with the full technical details of the agreement confirmed by 1 July. | Diplomats expect to reach a political agreement by 1 March, with the full technical details of the agreement confirmed by 1 July. |
'Maintaining momentum' | 'Maintaining momentum' |
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Hammond said that the failure to agree a deal was "a disappointment, but rather than continue blindly we have to recognise the reality that we're not going to make a deal tonight". | Speaking to the BBC, Mr Hammond said that the failure to agree a deal was "a disappointment, but rather than continue blindly we have to recognise the reality that we're not going to make a deal tonight". |
He said he was aware that hardliners opposed to any deal were vocal both in Iran and the US, which was why talks would continue again in December. | He said he was aware that hardliners opposed to any deal were vocal both in Iran and the US, which was why talks would continue again in December. |
"We are all clear that enough progress has been made that maintaining the current momentum, and keeping working at it, does give us the prospect of getting to a deal," he added. | "We are all clear that enough progress has been made that maintaining the current momentum, and keeping working at it, does give us the prospect of getting to a deal," he added. |
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is to give a national address at 18:00 GMT, Iranian news agencies reported. | |
The key sticking points in the negotiations were thought to have been the future size of Iran's uranium enrichment programme, and the timing of sanctions relief. | The key sticking points in the negotiations were thought to have been the future size of Iran's uranium enrichment programme, and the timing of sanctions relief. |
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. |
However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says it has been unable to confirm Tehran's assertions that its nuclear activities are exclusively for peaceful purposes. | However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says it has been unable to confirm Tehran's assertions that its nuclear activities are exclusively for peaceful purposes. |
Sticking points | |
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 | |
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 | |
The United Nations Security Council has adopted six resolutions since 2006 requiring Iran to stop enriching uranium, with sanctions to persuade Iran to comply. | The United Nations Security Council has adopted six resolutions since 2006 requiring Iran to stop enriching uranium, with sanctions to persuade Iran to comply. |
The US and EU have imposed additional sanctions on Iranian oil exports and banks since 2012, hitting Iran's oil revenue badly. | The US and EU have imposed additional sanctions on Iranian oil exports and banks since 2012, hitting Iran's oil revenue badly. |
US President Barack Obama acknowledged on Sunday that "significant" gaps between the two sides remained, and that President Hassan 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. | |
Both Saudi Arabia and Israel are also vehemently opposed to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal visited Vienna at the weekend for talks with US Secretary of State Mr Kerry, though his country is not formally involved in the discussions. | |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country has not ruled out bombing Iran's nuclear facilities, told the BBC that "no deal is better than a bad deal". |