Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — As the self-imposed deadline arrives, Iran and six world powers are wrapping up six days of marathon nuclear talks in Switzerland with mixed results.
Officials say they'll be issuing a general statement agreeing to continue the talks in a new phase. The goal will be to reach a final agreement to control Iran's nuclear ambitions by the end of June.
They'd set a deadline of today for a framework agreement, and later softened that wording to a framework understanding.
There are still obstacles on the issue of uranium enrichment, and where stockpiles of enriched uranium should be stored. There are also still differences to be overcome on the issue of limiting Iran's nuclear research and development, and on just when the sanctions against Iran should be lifted.
The officials say the joint statement will be accompanied by additional documents outlining more detailed understandings. It will let the sides claim that enough progress has been made thus far to merit a new round of talks.
The talks have already been extended twice. They are part of more than a decade of diplomatic attempts to curb Tehran's nuclear advance.
%@AP Links
107-c-15-(Matthew Lee, AP diplomatic correspondent)-"end of June"-AP Diplomatic Correspondent Matthew Lee reports officials say the Iran nuclear talks will continue in a new phase. (31 Mar 2015)
<<CUT *107 (03/31/15)££ 00:15 "end of June"
105-c-18-(Matthew Lee, AP diplomatic correspondent)-"they have reached"-AP Diplomatic Correspondent Matthew Lee reports that officials have been scrambling to reach some consensus ahead of their self-imposed deadline on an Iran nuclear outline. (31 Mar 2015)
<<CUT *105 (03/31/15)££ 00:18 "they have reached"
APPHOTO TOK302: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, second left, U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, left, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, center, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, second right, and German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier wait for the start of a meeting on Iran's nuclear program with other officials from France, China, the European Union and Iran 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 hours ahead of a self-imposed deadline to produce an agreement. (AP Photo/Brendan Smialowski, Pool) (31 Mar 2015)
<<APPHOTO TOK302 (03/31/15)££
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
