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LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Nuclear talks involving Iran and six world powers -- including the United States -- will continue past the self-imposed deadline tonight.
U.S. officials say the effort to produce the outline of an agreement limiting Iran's nuclear program will be extended by at least a day. A State Department spokeswoman says there's been enough progress to justify the extension, although she says there are still "several difficult issues" to deal with.
She says Secretary of State John Kerry, who had planned to leave the talks today, will remain until tomorrow.
An Iranian negotiator says his team can stay "as long as necessary" to clear the remaining hurdles.
At the White House, spokesman Josh Earnest said the sides were working to produce a text with few specifics, accompanied by documents outlining areas where further talks were needed.
Officials said earlier today they hoped to wrap up the talks by the deadline with a joint general statement agreeing to start a new phase of negotiations to curb Iran's nuclear program.
%@AP Links
158-a-08-(Josh Earnest, White House press secretary, at news conference)-"than a year"-White House press secretary Josh Earnest says the Obama administration wants a deal sooner than than later. (31 Mar 2015)
<<CUT *158 (03/31/15)££ 00:08 "than a year"
155-a-14-(Josh Earnest, White House press secretary, at news conference)-"on this deadline"-White House press secretary Josh Earnest says it makes no sense to keep talking about Iran's program just for the sake of talking. (31 Mar 2015)
<<CUT *155 (03/31/15)££ 00:14 "on this deadline"
APPHOTO DCSW109: White House press secretary Josh Earnest speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 31, 2015. Earnest answered questions about Iran and the various conflicts in the Middle East. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (31 Mar 2015)
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APPHOTO TOK305: Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, center right, European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini, center left, and other officials from Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States wait for the start of a meeting on Iran's nuclear program at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland Tuesday, March 31, 2015. Diplomats scrambled Tuesday to reach consensus on the outline of an Iran nuclear deal just hwait for the start of a meeting on Iran's nuclear program ours ahead of a self-imposed deadline to produce an agreement. (AP Photo/Brendan Smialowski, Pool) (31 Mar 2015)
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