WASHINGTON (JTA) — Iran nuclear talks have been extended a week past their deadline for a final deal.
The talks, which were to have reached an agreement by Tuesday, were extended to July 7, Marie Harf, a State Department strategic expert attending the talks in Vienna, said on Twitter.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart, Javad Zarif, are leading the teams in the Austrian capital. Both have described the negotiations in positive terms.
Zarif returned Tuesday from consulting with leaders in Iran.
“I am here to get a final deal and I think we can,” Zarif was quoted as saying by Al Monitor.
A deal would exchange sanctions relief for guarantees that Iran is not advancing toward a nuclear weapon.
Israel objects to the emerging deal, saying its terms will leave Iran a nuclear threshold state and increase its ability to disrupt the region.
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