Iran and 1+5 Extend Nuclear Negotiations for Another Week

As the final deadline for reaching an agreement on Iran's nuclear program approaches on Tuesday evening, July 9, reports indicate that Iran and the 1+5 group have agreed to extend the negotiations until next Tuesday, July 16. According to Hana Kavyani, a correspondent for Radio Farda in Vienna, the final deadline for achieving a comprehensive agreement has been extended by one week 'to provide sufficient time for negotiations to reach a long-term solution or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.' Meanwhile, the European Union has also extended the suspension of sanctions against Iran for another week. The EU stated that this action is aimed at providing the necessary opportunity in the ongoing negotiations to reach a long-term solution to the Iranian nuclear dispute. Following the one-week extension of the nuclear talks, the U.S. Treasury Department has also announced that the suspension of sanctions against Iran will be extended for seven days. The U.S., U.K., France, China, Russia, and Germany, the 1+5 countries, along with Iran, reached a 'framework understanding' for the final agreement in Lausanne, Switzerland, on April 2, and are currently negotiating to draft the 'Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.' According to Radio Farda's correspondent, Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, has also joined the negotiations in Vienna, and Mr. Zarif has stated to reporters that Salehi's presence will be 'very beneficial' for the negotiation process. Hossein Fereydoun, the brother and special assistant to President Hassan Rouhani, has also accompanied Salehi to Vienna. The negotiations on Tuesday are expected to involve more bilateral meetings between the foreign ministers of Iran, the U.S., and Russia.