Today’s deadline was set to meet the start a 30-day review period by the US Congress, however, US lawmakers will have 60 days to examine any document, which could potentially delay the implementation of the deal and the lifting of sanctions.
The extension follows seven days of prolonged talks, and a further extension of three days, after the failure to meet the original target of reaching an agreement by June 30th.
Today’s deadline was set to meet the start a 30-day review period by the US Congress, however, US lawmakers will now have 60 days to examine any document if a deal is concluded, which could potentially delay the implementation of the deal and the lifting of sanctions.
US Secretary of State John Kerry, told reporters yesterday: “we are not going to sit at the negotiating table forever” and that he was prepared to “call an end” to nuclear talks with Iran if “tough decisions” are not made”. However, he emphasised: “We’re here because we believe we are making real progress”.
Following yesterday’s announcement that talks would be extended again, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused Western powers of excessive demands: “Unfortunately we have seen changes in the position and excessive demands… by several countries”.
Last week, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that he did not think “we are at any kind of breakthrough moment yet”, and urged for more flexibility from Iran. The Foreign Secretary stated that there were “a number of different areas where we still have major differences of interpretation in detailing what was agreed at Lausanne”.
There have been continued disagreements on core elements of the emerging agreement, including Iran’s use of advanced centrifuges, the pace at which sanctions will be lifted, and the access that international inspectors will have to Iran’s nuclear facilities, especially military sites.
