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| Iran nuclear talks: 'framework' deal agreed - live updates | Iran nuclear talks: 'framework' deal agreed - live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.58pm BST19:58 | |
| Throughout history diplomacy has been crucial, he says. | |
| Simply demanding Iran capitulate makes a nice soundbite but it is not a plan, he says. | |
| The test for this deal is whether it will leave the world safer, he says. There is no question that this deal more than passes this test, he says - and all his international partners agree about that. He lists Germany, the UK, China, France and Russia. | |
| 7.57pm BST19:57 | |
| A final agreement will not rely on promises, it will rely on proof, Kerry says. | |
| In return for Iran’s cooperation, we will provide relief, in phases, from sanctions, he says. | |
| If at any point the international community think Iran is not meeting their demands, the sanctions can snap back into place, he says. | |
| 7.55pm BST19:55 | |
| Inspectors will be able to monitor the facilities for at least 20 years. | |
| This will guard against diversion of those materials to any clandestine destination or plant, Kerry says. | |
| And Iran has agreed to allow International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring, he says. | |
| 7.54pm BST19:54 | |
| We, our partners and Iran have agreed that the only enrichment facility Iran will have will be at Natanz - and it will undergo dramatic changes. The enrichment level will not approach that needed for a weapon. | |
| There will not be any fissile material at the site. | |
| It will be converted to a nuclear physics center, he says. | |
| Iran will redesign and rebuild its heavy water reactor at Arak, and the US will sign off on the new design. | |
| Iran will ship all its spent fuel from Arak out of the country for the reactor's lifetime, and will not build any more heavy water reactors for at least 15 years. | |
| 7.51pm BST19:51 | |
| Under this arrangement, the international community will have confidence Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful, he says. And if it isn't, they will have powers to deal with that. | |
| 7.51pm BST19:51 | |
| He says another point has been misrepresented. There will be no sunset to the deal we are working to finalize - the paramters of this agreement will be implemented in phases. Some provisions will be in place for 10 years, some 15, some 20 - but certain provisions will be in place indefinitely, Kerry says. “They will never expire.” | |
| 7.50pm BST19:50 | |
| John Kerry, the US secretary of state, is speaking now in Switzerland. | |
| In the coming weeks, from this moment forward, our experts will continue to work hard to build on the parameters we have worked out today and finalize a comprehensive deal by the end of June, he says. | |
| We will not accept just any deal - we will only accept a good deal, he says. | |
| This is a solid foundation of the good deal we are seeking, Kerry says. | |
| This is a deal by which Iran will cut its centrifuges by two thirds and cut Iran's break-out time from what was confirmed today to be two to three months to one year. | |
| 7.45pm BST19:45 | |
| Here is the text of the “Parameters for a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Nuclear Program”. | |
| 7.45pm BST19:45 | |
| It’s no secret he and Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu do not agree, he says. But this is the best option for Israel, Obama says. | |
| There is no daylight when it comes to our support for Israel’s security, Obama says. | |
| He says he also spoke to the king of Saudi Arabia about the issue, and is inviting the leaders of the Gulf Co-operation Council to meet him at Camp David this spring to discuss the issue of Iran and the wider Middle East. | |
| Congress has played a critical role shaping these crucial sanctions, Obama says. | |
| His administration will now engage Congress about how it can play a constructive oversight role, he says. | |
| He will underscore that the issues at stake here are bigger than politics. These are matters of war and peace. And they should be evaluated based on the facts. | |
| This is not a deal between the Obama administration and Iran, he says. It is a deal between Iran, the US and major world powers. | |
| If Congress kills this deal, the international community will blame the United States, he says. The American people support a negotiated solution. | |
| He quotes John F Kennedy: “Let us never negotiate out of fear but let us never fear to negotiate.” | |
| Ronald Reagan struck deals with the USSR - “a far more dangerous adversary”. That made the world safer. “A good deal with Iran will do the same.” | |
| He thanks his western allies. And he thanks the secretary of state, John Kerry, and his negotiating team. | |
| “Our work is not yet done and success is not yet guaranteed,” but this is a historic opportunity to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and we should seize it. | |
| With that the press conference ends. | |
| Updated at 7.51pm BST | |
| 7.44pm BST19:44 | |
| Obama says the P5+1 has achieved the framework of “a good deal that meets our core objectives.” | |
| The president reiterated a line spoken often of late, that nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed, and outlined the basics of the deal: | |
| Obama said international monitors will have access to Iran’s program for observation. “If Iran cheats, the world will know it.” He adds that Iran will face more inspections than any other country in the world. | |
| Obama said this will be a long-term deal, with a strict limit for a decade. Limits on stockpiles will last 15 years and inspections will be for 20 years or more if not permanently. | |
| The international community, the US and EU will reduce certain sanctions but he said sanctions can be reinstated if Iran violates terms. | |
| Obama addressed the Iranian people, saying the US is willing to “engage you with mutual respect.” The president then said, since Iran’s supreme leader has issued a fatwa against the development of nuclear weapons, this deal will give Iran the opportunity to verify this. If Iran complies, it can fully rejoin the community of nations, thereby fulfilling the wishes of Iran and its people, he said adding that this deal will not end the deep divisions and mistrust. | |
| Updated at 7.47pm BST | |
| 7.28pm BST19:28 | |
| Barack Obama starts speaking at the White House. | |
| He says he is convinced that if this framework leads to a deal, it will make the US, her allies and the world safer. | |
| He says the deal has been a long time coming, and briefly cites the history of international economic sanctions imposed on Iran and the decades of Iran building up its nuclear program. | |
| The president says the sanctions policy is what got Iran to the negotiating table. | |
| Updated at 7.29pm BST | |
| 7.20pm BST19:20 | 7.20pm BST19:20 |
| Zarif is still speaking in Switzerland. | Zarif is still speaking in Switzerland. |
| He says a reciprocal mechanism has been discussed for countries to go back to their old practises if there is a significant breach in undertakings given. | He says a reciprocal mechanism has been discussed for countries to go back to their old practises if there is a significant breach in undertakings given. |
| We are not looking for excuses to violate - we are looking for safeguards if one side decides to violate. | We are not looking for excuses to violate - we are looking for safeguards if one side decides to violate. |
| This is true for Iran, too, he says. We have been the victim many times, he says. | This is true for Iran, too, he says. We have been the victim many times, he says. |
| This is necessary to provide confidence, he says. | This is necessary to provide confidence, he says. |
| We made history last night by spending nine hours negotiating, Zarif says, at foreign minister and secretary of state level - that is probably a record. They didn’t put in that effort in order to abandon it before 30 June. | We made history last night by spending nine hours negotiating, Zarif says, at foreign minister and secretary of state level - that is probably a record. They didn’t put in that effort in order to abandon it before 30 June. |
| He hopes it will be the basis for serious work in the years ahead. | He hopes it will be the basis for serious work in the years ahead. |
| With that he leaves the stage. | With that he leaves the stage. |
| 7.20pm BST19:20 | 7.20pm BST19:20 |
| This is a dramatic breakthrough that goes beyond most expectations in terms of what has been agreed and how much has been made public, writes Julian Borger: | This is a dramatic breakthrough that goes beyond most expectations in terms of what has been agreed and how much has been made public, writes Julian Borger: |
| In this deal, Iran has undertaken to carry out a 75% reduction in its uranium enrichment infrastructure, from 19,000 installed centrifuges to just over 5,000 in the Natanz enrichment plant. | In this deal, Iran has undertaken to carry out a 75% reduction in its uranium enrichment infrastructure, from 19,000 installed centrifuges to just over 5,000 in the Natanz enrichment plant. |
| It will reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium from about 8 tons to 300 kg. These is a big cut in the nuclear programme. It would extend Iran’s breakout time to a year, and Iran could reach that point in as little as six months. At that point, the overwhelming bulk of sanctions would be lifted and Iran would re-enter the world economy. | It will reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium from about 8 tons to 300 kg. These is a big cut in the nuclear programme. It would extend Iran’s breakout time to a year, and Iran could reach that point in as little as six months. At that point, the overwhelming bulk of sanctions would be lifted and Iran would re-enter the world economy. |
| This is not a signed deal, however. It only becomes a formal international agreement at the end of June, if the full text, with all its technical annexes, can be finalised in time. But these are the broad compromises that had to be made in order to end a 13-year nuclear standoff. | This is not a signed deal, however. It only becomes a formal international agreement at the end of June, if the full text, with all its technical annexes, can be finalised in time. But these are the broad compromises that had to be made in order to end a 13-year nuclear standoff. |
| 7.11pm BST19:11 | 7.11pm BST19:11 |
| The UK’s foreign secretary Phillip Hammond has said in a statement: | The UK’s foreign secretary Phillip Hammond has said in a statement: |
| We have agreed the key parameters of a comprehensive deal on Iran’s nuclear programme. This includes Iranian agreement to restrict its programme by limiting its enrichment capacity, level and stockpile for specified durations. Research and development will be conducted within agreed bounds. Iran has also agreed to allow greater oversight of its activities. A comprehensive deal within these parameters will provide reassurance that the programme is peaceful. In return, Iran will receive significant economic and financial sanctions relief including the termination of all UN Security Council Resolutions. | We have agreed the key parameters of a comprehensive deal on Iran’s nuclear programme. This includes Iranian agreement to restrict its programme by limiting its enrichment capacity, level and stockpile for specified durations. Research and development will be conducted within agreed bounds. Iran has also agreed to allow greater oversight of its activities. A comprehensive deal within these parameters will provide reassurance that the programme is peaceful. In return, Iran will receive significant economic and financial sanctions relief including the termination of all UN Security Council Resolutions. |
| This is well beyond what many of us thought possible even 18 months ago and a good basis for what I believe could be a very good deal. But there is still more work to do. The fine detail of any deal will be very important, in particular specifics of oversight measures and mechanisms for handling UN Security Council resolutions. [...] Sanctions will remain in place until the comprehensive deal is agreed and implemented. | This is well beyond what many of us thought possible even 18 months ago and a good basis for what I believe could be a very good deal. But there is still more work to do. The fine detail of any deal will be very important, in particular specifics of oversight measures and mechanisms for handling UN Security Council resolutions. [...] Sanctions will remain in place until the comprehensive deal is agreed and implemented. |
| 7.04pm BST19:04 | 7.04pm BST19:04 |
| Refresh the page to watch Obama’s statement on Iran live above. | Refresh the page to watch Obama’s statement on Iran live above. |
| 7.02pm BST19:02 | 7.02pm BST19:02 |
| Barack Obama will deliver a statement on Iran at 2.15 p.m. from the Rose Garden at the White House. | Barack Obama will deliver a statement on Iran at 2.15 p.m. from the Rose Garden at the White House. |
| 6.56pm BST18:56 | 6.56pm BST18:56 |
| Zarif spoke next. He read out the statement in Farsi. It was the same statement Mogherini read in English, he said. | Zarif spoke next. He read out the statement in Farsi. It was the same statement Mogherini read in English, he said. |
| 6.55pm BST18:55 | 6.55pm BST18:55 |
| Iran framework deal - details | Iran framework deal - details |
| Mogherini spoke first to the press conference. She said: | Mogherini spoke first to the press conference. She said: |
| Updated at 7.30pm BST | |
| 6.52pm BST18:52 | 6.52pm BST18:52 |
| Big day: #EU, P5+1, and #Iran now have parameters to resolve major issues on nuclear program. Back to work soon on a final deal. | Big day: #EU, P5+1, and #Iran now have parameters to resolve major issues on nuclear program. Back to work soon on a final deal. |
| HUGE thanks to our terrific team of U.S. diplomats and experts. Simply could not do #IranTalks without them. | HUGE thanks to our terrific team of U.S. diplomats and experts. Simply could not do #IranTalks without them. |
| 6.49pm BST18:49 | 6.49pm BST18:49 |
| The United States, Iran and five other world powers say they’ve reached an understanding that will direct them toward achieving a comprehensive nuclear agreement within three months. | The United States, Iran and five other world powers say they’ve reached an understanding that will direct them toward achieving a comprehensive nuclear agreement within three months. |
| Reading out a joint statement, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said a “decisive step” had been achieved. | Reading out a joint statement, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said a “decisive step” had been achieved. |
| US secretary of state John Kerry tweeted there was a deal “to resolve major issues on nuclear program. Back to work soon on a final deal.” | US secretary of state John Kerry tweeted there was a deal “to resolve major issues on nuclear program. Back to work soon on a final deal.” |
| 6.42pm BST18:42 | 6.42pm BST18:42 |
| Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif and the EU’s foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini have taken the stage and are now reading the announcement. | Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif and the EU’s foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini have taken the stage and are now reading the announcement. |
| Updated at 6.44pm BST | Updated at 6.44pm BST |
| 6.39pm BST18:39 | 6.39pm BST18:39 |
| Watch the live stream of the joint statement at the top of the page by hitting refresh. | Watch the live stream of the joint statement at the top of the page by hitting refresh. |
| 6.39pm BST18:39 | 6.39pm BST18:39 |
| Many Iranians are anxiously waiting to see the results of Iran nuclear talks in Lausanne as it will affect the lives of ordinary people across the country, writes our Iran correspondent Saeed Kamali Dehghan: | Many Iranians are anxiously waiting to see the results of Iran nuclear talks in Lausanne as it will affect the lives of ordinary people across the country, writes our Iran correspondent Saeed Kamali Dehghan: |
| Iranian families anxiously waiting for the result of Iran nuclear talks: pic.twitter.com/Yv0YU0aUCe via @farentaghizadeh #Lausanne | Iranian families anxiously waiting for the result of Iran nuclear talks: pic.twitter.com/Yv0YU0aUCe via @farentaghizadeh #Lausanne |
| They hope that a possible agreement, if reached, would end years of international isolation, economic hardship under sanctions and avert the threat of war. | They hope that a possible agreement, if reached, would end years of international isolation, economic hardship under sanctions and avert the threat of war. |
| Any good news from Switzerland especially will delight Iranians as they celebrate the final days of Nowruz new year holidays. But today newspapers, the bazaar and state institutions are all shut and there won’t be a knock-on reaction on the country’s currency market. | Any good news from Switzerland especially will delight Iranians as they celebrate the final days of Nowruz new year holidays. But today newspapers, the bazaar and state institutions are all shut and there won’t be a knock-on reaction on the country’s currency market. |
| But if the announcement is positive, Iran’s currency, the rial, which dropped dramatically against the dollar at the height of the sanctions regime in 2012, is likely to benefit from it almost immediately when markets open next week. | But if the announcement is positive, Iran’s currency, the rial, which dropped dramatically against the dollar at the height of the sanctions regime in 2012, is likely to benefit from it almost immediately when markets open next week. |
| Updated at 6.41pm BST | Updated at 6.41pm BST |
| 6.30pm BST18:30 | 6.30pm BST18:30 |
| Abbas Aslani (@abasinfo on Twitter), world editor at Tasnim News, has a first look at the deal: | Abbas Aslani (@abasinfo on Twitter), world editor at Tasnim News, has a first look at the deal: |
| #BREAKING: Over 1000 centrifuges will be operating in Fordo facility. #IranTalks | #BREAKING: Over 1000 centrifuges will be operating in Fordo facility. #IranTalks |
| #BREAKING: More than 5000 centrifuges will continue to enrich 3.67% in Natanz . #IranTalks | #BREAKING: More than 5000 centrifuges will continue to enrich 3.67% in Natanz . #IranTalks |
| #BREAKING: Duration of CJPOA re Iran's nuclear enrichment will be 10 years. #IranTalks | #BREAKING: Duration of CJPOA re Iran's nuclear enrichment will be 10 years. #IranTalks |
| 6.25pm BST18:25 | 6.25pm BST18:25 |
| A statement from Barack Obama at the White House looks imminent, reports the Guardian’s Paul Lewis from Washington: | A statement from Barack Obama at the White House looks imminent, reports the Guardian’s Paul Lewis from Washington: |
| The president was scheduled to leave the White House on a scheduled trip to Kentucky more than an hour and a half ago. Instead, he’s stayed put. No word yet from White House officials about the timing of any statement but it looks likely. The Obama administration faces stiff opposition in Washington to the Iran nuclear deal, and will be poised to vigorously defend any agreement the moment it is made public. | The president was scheduled to leave the White House on a scheduled trip to Kentucky more than an hour and a half ago. Instead, he’s stayed put. No word yet from White House officials about the timing of any statement but it looks likely. The Obama administration faces stiff opposition in Washington to the Iran nuclear deal, and will be poised to vigorously defend any agreement the moment it is made public. |
| Updated at 6.28pm BST | Updated at 6.28pm BST |
| 6.16pm BST18:16 | 6.16pm BST18:16 |
| Both Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani and foreign minister Javad Zarif have claimed a breakthrough in negotiations on Twitter: | Both Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani and foreign minister Javad Zarif have claimed a breakthrough in negotiations on Twitter: |
| Found solutions. Ready to start drafting immediately. | Found solutions. Ready to start drafting immediately. |
| Solutions on key parameters of Iran #nuclear case reached. Drafting to start immediately, to finish by June 30th. #IranTalks | Solutions on key parameters of Iran #nuclear case reached. Drafting to start immediately, to finish by June 30th. #IranTalks |
| Some commentators have noted, however, the irony of Iran’s leader announcing the news on Twitter, a social media site banned in Iran ... | Some commentators have noted, however, the irony of Iran’s leader announcing the news on Twitter, a social media site banned in Iran ... |
| #Iran FM, President Rouhani broke news of drafting of #IranTalks statement on social media sites that are banned in #Iran. #Filternet | #Iran FM, President Rouhani broke news of drafting of #IranTalks statement on social media sites that are banned in #Iran. #Filternet |
| Updated at 6.32pm BST | Updated at 6.32pm BST |
| 6.12pm BST18:12 | 6.12pm BST18:12 |
| A joint statement between the P5+1 and Iran is being finalized, and is expected to be read out shortly at the Lausanne Technical Institute’s Rolex Learning Centre. It was due at 7pm local time / 1pm ET, but things seem to be running slightly behind schedule ... | A joint statement between the P5+1 and Iran is being finalized, and is expected to be read out shortly at the Lausanne Technical Institute’s Rolex Learning Centre. It was due at 7pm local time / 1pm ET, but things seem to be running slightly behind schedule ... |
| The statement will be issued by Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the EU’s foreign affairs and security chief, Federica Mogherini, officials have said. | The statement will be issued by Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the EU’s foreign affairs and security chief, Federica Mogherini, officials have said. |
| After the joint statement, there will be a separate Iranian press conference by Zarif; followed by a separate news conference by US secretary of state John Kerry, who is expected to disclose further details of the framework and future agreement. | After the joint statement, there will be a separate Iranian press conference by Zarif; followed by a separate news conference by US secretary of state John Kerry, who is expected to disclose further details of the framework and future agreement. |
| Updated at 6.16pm BST | Updated at 6.16pm BST |
| 6.04pm BST18:04 | 6.04pm BST18:04 |
| Welcome to our live coverage of the framework deal to be announced on Iran’s nuclear programme. | Welcome to our live coverage of the framework deal to be announced on Iran’s nuclear programme. |
| Iran and the six powers involved in the Lausanne talks are expected to agree on a final accord after years of on-off negotiations that extended beyond a midnight deadline on Tuesday into a final session on the details of the deal. | Iran and the six powers involved in the Lausanne talks are expected to agree on a final accord after years of on-off negotiations that extended beyond a midnight deadline on Tuesday into a final session on the details of the deal. |
| Israel condemned the deal before it had even been agreed. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “The concessions offered to Iran in Lausanne would ensure a bad deal that would endanger Israel, the Middle East and the peace of the world.” | Israel condemned the deal before it had even been agreed. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “The concessions offered to Iran in Lausanne would ensure a bad deal that would endanger Israel, the Middle East and the peace of the world.” |
| The Guardian’s diplomatic editor Julian Borger (@julianborger) is in Lausanne where he is tweeting regular updates. | The Guardian’s diplomatic editor Julian Borger (@julianborger) is in Lausanne where he is tweeting regular updates. |
| Background | Background |
| The Financial Times’s world affairs podcast World Weekly provides a good primer to the talks. | The Financial Times’s world affairs podcast World Weekly provides a good primer to the talks. |
| Its foreign editor Roula Khalaf said the the prospect of rehabilitating Iran to the international community through an agreement would be “transformational for politics of the region”. | Its foreign editor Roula Khalaf said the the prospect of rehabilitating Iran to the international community through an agreement would be “transformational for politics of the region”. |
| The New York Times has a useful explainer, with graphics to set out some of the technical issues. | The New York Times has a useful explainer, with graphics to set out some of the technical issues. |
| And in a backgrounder to the talks it points out that because of the length of the negotiations, US secretary of dtate John Kerry has now spent more time with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, than any other foreign minister. | And in a backgrounder to the talks it points out that because of the length of the negotiations, US secretary of dtate John Kerry has now spent more time with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, than any other foreign minister. |
| It also explains the difficulties for both the US and the Iranian negotiators. | It also explains the difficulties for both the US and the Iranian negotiators. |
| As much as the American team would like to treat the negotiations as a way to contain a dangerous proliferation threat, they have to deal with a Congress that sees them as a proxy for containing Iran as it flexes its muscles in the Middle East, from Iraq to Yemen to Syria. | As much as the American team would like to treat the negotiations as a way to contain a dangerous proliferation threat, they have to deal with a Congress that sees them as a proxy for containing Iran as it flexes its muscles in the Middle East, from Iraq to Yemen to Syria. |
| For the Iranians, the negotiations are a first test of whether the United States, still sometimes called the Great Satan, can learn to accommodate Iran’s re-emergence as a Persian power ... | For the Iranians, the negotiations are a first test of whether the United States, still sometimes called the Great Satan, can learn to accommodate Iran’s re-emergence as a Persian power ... |
| Mr Kerry needs shutdown and dismantlement numbers because Congress demands them. If he and [Energy Secretary Ernest] Moniz cannot make a specific case about how to measure Iranian compliance with the deal, and how to calculate whether there is now “one-year breakout time to a bomb,” there is a reasonable argument that more sanctions will follow. | Mr Kerry needs shutdown and dismantlement numbers because Congress demands them. If he and [Energy Secretary Ernest] Moniz cannot make a specific case about how to measure Iranian compliance with the deal, and how to calculate whether there is now “one-year breakout time to a bomb,” there is a reasonable argument that more sanctions will follow. |
| Despite the difficulties, both the US and Iranian nuclear negotiators wanted a deal, the Guardian’s Simon Tisdall points out: | Despite the difficulties, both the US and Iranian nuclear negotiators wanted a deal, the Guardian’s Simon Tisdall points out: |
| Iran wants a deal because sanctions – despite official denials – are hurting its economy and damaging crucial oil and gas export industries. Iranian businessmen and workers interviewed in Tehran last year were unanimous in their hope that relations will be normalised. Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, knows a deal would revive his so far lacklustre presidency and confound his conservative critics. | Iran wants a deal because sanctions – despite official denials – are hurting its economy and damaging crucial oil and gas export industries. Iranian businessmen and workers interviewed in Tehran last year were unanimous in their hope that relations will be normalised. Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, knows a deal would revive his so far lacklustre presidency and confound his conservative critics. |
| John Kerry, a serial under-achiever as US secretary of state, has a lot riding on these talks. A deal would be a rare personal success in a sea of diplomatic failures reaching from Syria and Palestine to Crimea. Likewise, Barack Obama could certainly use a foreign policy breakthrough. His recent Nowruz address, aimed at Iranians, made clear he is not simply looking to resolve the nuclear standoff. | John Kerry, a serial under-achiever as US secretary of state, has a lot riding on these talks. A deal would be a rare personal success in a sea of diplomatic failures reaching from Syria and Palestine to Crimea. Likewise, Barack Obama could certainly use a foreign policy breakthrough. His recent Nowruz address, aimed at Iranians, made clear he is not simply looking to resolve the nuclear standoff. |
| Updated at 6.15pm BST | Updated at 6.15pm BST |