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Deadline Is Extended in Iran Nuclear Talks Deadline Is Extended in Iran Nuclear Talks
(about 3 hours later)
VIENNA — The United States and its negotiating partners announced on Tuesday that they were extending an interim nuclear accord with Iran until July 7 to allow talks on a final agreement to continue.VIENNA — The United States and its negotiating partners announced on Tuesday that they were extending an interim nuclear accord with Iran until July 7 to allow talks on a final agreement to continue.
Tuesday had been the deadline for completing an enduring agreement, but negotiators have been saying for several days that the target date was unrealistic.Tuesday had been the deadline for completing an enduring agreement, but negotiators have been saying for several days that the target date was unrealistic.
The extension of the interim agreement, the “Joint Plan of Action,” will maintain the freeze on much of Iran’s nuclear program while negotiators struggle to complete a final accord that would constrain the program for more than a decade in return for relief from sanctions. The extension of the interim agreement, the “Joint Plan of Action,” will maintain the freeze on much of Iran’s nuclear program and continue modest sanctions relief while negotiators struggle to complete a final accord.
The announcement came several hours after Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s chief diplomat and lead negotiator, returned from a brief trip to Tehran for consultations with the Iranian leadership. He then began his day with a one-on-one meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry, who described the private discussion as “a good conversation.”The announcement came several hours after Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s chief diplomat and lead negotiator, returned from a brief trip to Tehran for consultations with the Iranian leadership. He then began his day with a one-on-one meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry, who described the private discussion as “a good conversation.”
With the United States looking for signs that he arrived with more flexible negotiating instructions, Mr. Zarif insisted that he had not returned to Tehran to secure a mandate to complete the accord. The United States was looking for signs that Mr. Zarif had arrived with more flexible negotiating instructions, but he insisted that nothing had changed.
“I didn’t go to get a mandate,” Mr. Zarif said before a wider meeting that included senior officials on both sides. “I already had a mandate to negotiate, and I am here to get a final deal, and I think we can.”“I didn’t go to get a mandate,” Mr. Zarif said before a wider meeting that included senior officials on both sides. “I already had a mandate to negotiate, and I am here to get a final deal, and I think we can.”
American officials have said for some time that they hoped to finish the agreement by July 9, in time to submit it to Congress, which would then begin a 30-day review period. And on Monday, some Iranian officials in Tehran indicated they had that goal in mind too. The final accord would constrain Iran’s program for more than a decade in return for the removal or suspension of sanctions. American officials have said for some time that they hoped to finish the agreement by July 9, in time to submit it to Congress, which would then begin a 30-day review period. On Monday, some Iranian officials in Tehran indicated they had that goal in mind, too.
If an accord is finished later this summer, the review period would double because of Congress’s summer recess, and the Obama administration is concerned that critics could use the additional time to mobilize opposition to the agreement. If an accord is finished later this summer, the review period would double because of Congress’s summer recess, and the Obama administration is concerned that critics could use the additional time to mobilize opposition to the agreement. It would also force Iran to wait longer for the sanctions relief it is seeking.
The latest round of negotiations began last week under a cloud after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, appeared to back away from central elements of a preliminary accord that was reached two months ago in the Swiss city of Lausanne. The latest round of negotiations began last week under a cloud after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, appeared to back away from central elements of a preliminary accord reached two months ago in the Swiss city of Lausanne.
After the United States and its negotiating partners insisted that the Lausanne framework must remain the basis of an agreement, Mr. Zarif flew to Tehran on Sunday night for consultations with his nation’s senior leaders.After the United States and its negotiating partners insisted that the Lausanne framework must remain the basis of an agreement, Mr. Zarif flew to Tehran on Sunday night for consultations with his nation’s senior leaders.
In an indication that the talks are likely to intensify, Mr. Zarif arrived here Tuesday morning with Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, and Hossein Fereydoun, a younger brother of President Hassan Rouhani. In an indication that the talks are likely to intensify, Mr. Zarif arrived here Tuesday morning with Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, and Hossein Fereydoun, a younger brother of President Hassan Rouhani. Mr. Salehi, who recently underwent surgery, played an important role with Ernest J. Moniz, the United States energy secretary, in negotiating the Lausanne accord.
Mr. Salehi, who recently underwent surgery, played an important role with Ernest J. Moniz, the United States energy secretary, in negotiating the Lausanne accord. In a post on Twitter on Tuesday that appeared to raise Iranians’ hope that an accord might finally be at hand, Ayatollah Khamenei praised his negotiators as “trustworthy, committed, brave and faithful.”
In a post on Twitter on Tuesday, Ayatollah Khamenei praised his negotiators as “trustworthy, committed, brave and faithful.” In marked contrast to previous days, neither side talked openly about red lines or suggested the other had backtracked. But difficult negotiations still loomed ahead.
Mr. Zarif said when he arrived at the airport here, “I feel the negotiations have reached a very sensitive stage.”Mr. Zarif said when he arrived at the airport here, “I feel the negotiations have reached a very sensitive stage.”
“With political will,” he said, “determination and lots of work, progress is possible.” “What is needed more than anything is the other side’s political will, which will make the job of reaching an acceptable result easier,” he added.
The talks involve the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany, Iran and Russia. The talks involve the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany, Iran and Russia. Mr. Kerry met Tuesday afternoon with Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister.
Mr. Kerry is scheduled to meet here with Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, on Tuesday afternoon.