1st LD Writethru: Iran nuclear talks to go beyond deadline to July 7: U.S. official
Xinhua, July 1, 2015 Adjust font size:
The most recent round of nuclear talks between Iran and world powers over Iran's long- disputed nuclear program have extended the deal deadline from June 30 to July 7, a U.S. diplomat said on Tuesday.
Iran and the world major countries have decided to extend the deadline of Iranian nuclear negotiations until July 7 to buy time for a long-term deal, U.S. State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf wrote on her Twitter account on Tuesday.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong told reporters on his arrival here on Sunday that a comprehensive deal could possibly be reached within one week.
Already on June 22, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said his country preferred a "good" deal even if it meant going beyond the self-imposed June 30 deadline to clinch a comprehensive nuclear agreement.
Meanwhile, "to allow more time for the ongoing negotiations to reach a long term solution to the Iranian nuclear issue," the European Council has prolonged until July 7, 2015, the suspension of EU restrictive measures agreed in the Joint Plan of Action with Iran dated Nov. 24, 2013, said a European Council statement on Tuesday. Endit