‘No breakthrough yet’ in Iran talks, Britain says

The administration has argued a deal with Iran could make the Middle East safer by keeping nuclear weapons from Tehran.

“Things have advanced but we have not yet reached the end”, Fabius told reporters.

Iran has been accused of stonewalling the IAEA probe on its past activities, and Western officials have said some of the sanctions relief would depend on Iran’s cooperation.

Negotiators have until July 9 to turn over a finalized deal to lawmakers or face a longer congressional review period.

It is based on the principle of “simultaneity”, officials said. His seven demands, re-posted on Twitter, included a shorter duration for a deal and its restrictions on Iranian nuclear research, immediate removal of economic sanctions once a deal is hatched and the banning of inspections at Iranian military sites. Instead, the United States and the European Union would each lay the groundwork for lifting sanctions, a time-consuming task that involves drafting regulations and notifying banks, among other measures.

Amano was expected to discuss “how to accelerate the resolution of all outstanding issues related to Iran’s nuclear program, including clarification of possible military dimensions”. “We suggest taking profit on this position”, said analyst Ang.

Iran is “hemorrhaging hundreds of billions because of sanctions and tens of billions because of the drop in oil prices”, points out the Carnegie Endowment’s Karim Sadjadpour, one of the shrewdest US experts on Iran.

“We’ve been engaged in these negotiations for nearly two years now and the United States and our…partners have had ample opportunity to work through with Iran the wide-range of very complex issues that are involved in these negotiations”.

With few signs that the talks are close to wrapping up, Mr. Zarif has questioned whether Tuesday was really a final and achievable deadline.

Amano traveled to Iran to clarify some of the inspection and verification issues in the talks.

Wednesday’s disclosure by the IAEA sent the State Department rushing to downplay the Iranian violation.

Amano is also scheduled to meet with Iranian president Hassan Rouhani during his one-day stay in Tehran.

“If they cannot come to an agreement, that discussion – that negotiation – can go on ad infinitum”, a senior US official said.

The report is being circulated to members of that agency’s board and to the United Nations Security Council.

Nor is Iran likely to rush to ramp up its nuclear program if the talks break down.

Asked if he saw a chance for an agreement by July 7, Wang told reporters on arrival in Vienna, “I think there’s a high possibility”. But a bad deal would tarnish Obama’s legacy, and the president appears to get it. He also knows the USA public isn’t clamoring for an agreement, about which Congress is leery. “All indications are that the Iranians take the deadline very seriously as well”. “We have a lot of preparation to do to be able to lift our sanctions in the first instance….”