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E.U. and Iran Expected to Issue Joint Statement on Nuclear Talks E.U. and Iran Expected to Issue Joint Statement on Nuclear Talks
(35 minutes later)
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Officials of the European Union and Iran were expected to read a joint statement about progress toward a nuclear agreement around 1 p.m. E.D.T., officials in Lausanne said Thursday, though it was unclear if tangible details would be released.LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Officials of the European Union and Iran were expected to read a joint statement about progress toward a nuclear agreement around 1 p.m. E.D.T., officials in Lausanne said Thursday, though it was unclear if tangible details would be released.
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, was expected to hold a news conference shortly afterward, followed by a separate news conference by Secretary of State John Kerry, at which he was expected to disclose more specifics about any potential accord.Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, was expected to hold a news conference shortly afterward, followed by a separate news conference by Secretary of State John Kerry, at which he was expected to disclose more specifics about any potential accord.
While members of the news media were being summoned for the briefings, the talks were still going on behind closed doors. While members of the news media were being summoned for the briefings, the talks were still going on behind closed doors. Just minutes before the scheduled briefings, Mr. Zarif sent out a Twitter message saying the negotiators had “found solutions” and were, “Ready to start drafting immediately.” Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, sent a similar tweet.
President Obama, who had been scheduled to depart just after noon for Louisville, Ky., for an economics speech, remained at the White House, where there was no word about his plans for the remainder of the day.President Obama, who had been scheduled to depart just after noon for Louisville, Ky., for an economics speech, remained at the White House, where there was no word about his plans for the remainder of the day.
Mr. Zarif had said previously that he and Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, would appear together to make a general statement on the talks.Mr. Zarif had said previously that he and Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, would appear together to make a general statement on the talks.
But Obama administration officials have insisted that the current round of talks here produce more than a general understanding. They want a “quantitative dimension” — that is, specific limits on Iran’s nuclear program that the White House can cite to push back against congressional moves for additional sanctions.But Obama administration officials have insisted that the current round of talks here produce more than a general understanding. They want a “quantitative dimension” — that is, specific limits on Iran’s nuclear program that the White House can cite to push back against congressional moves for additional sanctions.
Washington and Tehran also differ over the economic sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program. The United States wants to lift the sanctions in steps, tied to Iran’s compliance with the agreement. But Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Al Khamenei, who has the last word on any deal, has insisted that all the sanctions be lifted when the final accord is signed.Washington and Tehran also differ over the economic sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program. The United States wants to lift the sanctions in steps, tied to Iran’s compliance with the agreement. But Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Al Khamenei, who has the last word on any deal, has insisted that all the sanctions be lifted when the final accord is signed.
With their dueling news conferences, it appeared that Mr. Zarif and Mr. Kerry would try to tailor the perceptions of the final agreement to meet those specific political imperatives, though it was not clear how they would respond to each other’s remarks.With their dueling news conferences, it appeared that Mr. Zarif and Mr. Kerry would try to tailor the perceptions of the final agreement to meet those specific political imperatives, though it was not clear how they would respond to each other’s remarks.
President Obama had set March 31 as a deadline for reaching a political accord to define the main terms of a final, comprehensive agreement due by the end of June.President Obama had set March 31 as a deadline for reaching a political accord to define the main terms of a final, comprehensive agreement due by the end of June.
The Obama administration has extended that self-imposed deadline. But at the same time the White House has warned publicly that it is prepared to step back from the diplomacy if it is clear that the initial accord cannot be reached.The Obama administration has extended that self-imposed deadline. But at the same time the White House has warned publicly that it is prepared to step back from the diplomacy if it is clear that the initial accord cannot be reached.
An all-night round of talks ended at 6 a.m. local time on Thursday, or midnight Eastern time. Mr. Zarif noted that some diplomats had not slept, and fatigue was visible on the faces of some aides who straggled into the breakfast room of the luxury hotel here where the talks are being held under tight security.An all-night round of talks ended at 6 a.m. local time on Thursday, or midnight Eastern time. Mr. Zarif noted that some diplomats had not slept, and fatigue was visible on the faces of some aides who straggled into the breakfast room of the luxury hotel here where the talks are being held under tight security.
Shortly before 11 a.m., the deliberations resumed as Mr. Kerry met with Ms. Mogherini and the chief diplomats of Britain, France and Germany. Russia and China, whose foreign minsters have left the talks, were represented by lower-ranking officials.Shortly before 11 a.m., the deliberations resumed as Mr. Kerry met with Ms. Mogherini and the chief diplomats of Britain, France and Germany. Russia and China, whose foreign minsters have left the talks, were represented by lower-ranking officials.
Mr. Zarif said the purpose of the meeting would be to assess the “solutions” that Iran had discussed with the Americans and their negotiating partners overnight.Mr. Zarif said the purpose of the meeting would be to assess the “solutions” that Iran had discussed with the Americans and their negotiating partners overnight.
The form of any understanding with Iran has been at issue for weeks.The form of any understanding with Iran has been at issue for weeks.
But there have been other complicated questions, including how quickly sanctions on Iran might be eased and what nuclear research would be permitted on advanced centrifuges.But there have been other complicated questions, including how quickly sanctions on Iran might be eased and what nuclear research would be permitted on advanced centrifuges.
An idea to suspend certain United Nations sanctions temporarily but to arrange for them to automatically “snap back” into place if Iran does not fulfill its commitments under a nuclear accord has also prompted concerns from Russia that such a procedure might dilute the authority of its Security Council veto power.An idea to suspend certain United Nations sanctions temporarily but to arrange for them to automatically “snap back” into place if Iran does not fulfill its commitments under a nuclear accord has also prompted concerns from Russia that such a procedure might dilute the authority of its Security Council veto power.
For weeks, some critics have complained that the March 31 deadline the Obama administration had set for a preliminary accord might diminish its leverage in the talks by adding to the pressure on American negotiators to make last-minute concessions.For weeks, some critics have complained that the March 31 deadline the Obama administration had set for a preliminary accord might diminish its leverage in the talks by adding to the pressure on American negotiators to make last-minute concessions.