Iran Nuke Talks Deadline Extended to July 7

U.S. and Iranian negotiators in Vienna on Tuesday agreed to extend a deadline for an agreement on Iran's disputed nuclear program until July 7, as sticking points remained.

The deadline was originally set to expire Tuesday night. The preliminary measures have been prolonged to July 7 “to allow more time for negotiations to reach a long-term solution … on the Iran nuclear issue,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said.

The White House fact sheet stated Iran would limit its research and development and capacity to produce nuclear fuel for 10 years, refrain from building new enrichment facilities for 15 years and accept “robust inspections” for 25 years. Even after that period, Iran would agree not to develop or acquire nuclear weapons and would allow continued inspections, the White House said.

… 

Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a sceptic of the emerging deal, says the difference in interpretations reflects fundamental gapsin American and Iranian goals, and a “time bomb (that) will explode when reality sets in” after a final deal is reached.

“You can never, in any agreement, draft language that is precise and comprehensive enough to cover any contingency,” Dubowitz said. “There has to be fundamental meeting of the minds between the parties in order for an agreement to be sustainable and durable.”

… 

Read the full article here.