Iran Nuclear Talks Stretched into Thursday

(Tasnim) – Negotiators of Iran and six world powers lingered over talks on Tehran’s nuclear program in Switzerland on Thursday, two days after a self-imposed deadline of March 31 with talks at a pivotal moment.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry held another lengthy meeting at a 19th-century hotel in Lausanne until the early hours of Thursday to narrow down differences over an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.

Zarif told reporters on Wednesday night that there are still a number of issues that need to be resolved.

“They require, as I have said, the recognition by all parties that they need to exhibit political will and flexibility in order to move forward. Iran has exhibited that political will," he said.

Kerry and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said they would stay at least until Thursday in an effort to seal the "political" agreement.

In separate comments, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said, "We are a few meters from the finishing line, but it's always the last meters that are the most difficult. We will try and cross them."

And British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond also hinted at a “broad framework of understanding”, but noted, “there are still some key issues that have to be worked through."

Since a week ago, negotiators and senior diplomats from Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) have been working on a lasting agreement in the Swiss city.