The nuclear talks with Iran have been extended for seven months after negotiators failed to reach a comprehensive agreement for the second time after intense negotiations this year.
Diplomats said they made a critical progress during the negotiation, and the seven months extension will provide time to overcome the deadlock that prevented them from striking a deal.
Iran’s position got closer with its counterparts
The negotiators composed of a six-nation group and Iran agreed to move forward on a general framework for an agreement. Their new target to reach an agreement regarding the nuclear ambitions of Iran will be on June 30 next year.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Tass news agency that they made “substantial progress” during the negotiations.
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said, “Many gaps were narrowed, and our positions with the other side got closer.
On the other hand, United States Secretary of State John Kerry emphasized that there are still “some significant points of disagreement,” but they achieved “real and substantial progress.”
“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,” said Kerry.
Negotiations will resume next month
According to British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, the negotiation about Iran’s nuclear ambitions will resume next month.
The negotiators expect to achieve a “headline agreement” within three months and work out the technical details before the end of June.
Iran is seeking to significantly loosen the sanctions imposed against it in exchange for compromises. However, the Iranian government is still insisting its position to have the ability to enrich uranium to produce energy from its nuclear power plants and for its medical research reactor.
Iran reiterated that it has no intention to develop nuclear weapons
The United States and its allies want to limit the ability of Iran to enrich uranium. The group also aims to intensify international monitoring to make sure that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons in the future.
Iran reiterated that it has no intention to develop nuclear weapons and emphasized that its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei implemented a fatwa or religious decree that prohibits atomic weapons.
Under an interim deal last year, Iran agreed with the nation group to stop its higher-level uranium enrichment in exchange for a limited easing of international sanctions, which crippled its economy.
