Iran Nuclear Talks To Be Extended After Missing Deadline

AUSTRIA-EU-IRAN-UN-NUCLEAR-POLITICS

Iran and six other world powers failed on Monday for a second time this year to resolve their 12-year-old dispute over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, and consequently gave themselves seven more months to overcome the deadlock that has prevented an historic deal. Read the story from Reuters:

Western officials said they were aiming to secure an agreement on the substance of a final accord by March but that more time would be needed to reach a consensus on the all-important technical details.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who is trying to win relief from crippling international economic sanctions by patching up relations with the West, said that “many gaps were narrowed and our positions with the other side got closer” at talks in Vienna, state TV quoted him as saying.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gave a more somber assessment, saying “real and substantial progress had been made” but added that “some significant points of disagreement” remained.

“These talks are not going to get easier just because we extend them. They’re tough. They’ve been tough. And they’re going to stay tough,” he told reporters.