Brussels, 16/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - The negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme could be extended beyond the 20 July deadline, Iranian and Western sources have announced. On Tuesday 15 July, Iran's Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif recommended that the negotiations be extended. “At the point where we are today, we have made enough progress to be able to say to our political leaders that it's a process that is worth being continued. This is my recommendation. I'm sure that Mr Kerry will make the same recommendation”, Zarif stated at a press conference after another meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry. Kerry has returned to the US to talk to US President Barack Obama and Congress about “the prospect of reaching a global agreement, as well as the next step - if we don't reach agreement by 20 July”. “This includes the issue of knowing whether more time is needed [for the negotiation] or not”, he added.
A Western source told EUROPE that “an extension is a strong possibility”. This source underlined that it was still too early to tell how long the extension might last for, adding that it will have to be discussed. “As it is highly unlikely that it will be finalised in Vienna at the end of the week, it is highly likely that we will want to continue discussions in the months to come”, another diplomat told French news agency AFP. According to this source, it was “fairly unlikely” that everything would be settled by 20 July because the issue of uranium enrichment will still be a problem.
Michael Mann, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, stated that the date remained 20 July. “We are focused on 20th, and are seeking an agreement before 20 July”, he told EUROPE, saying that work was continuing on the text of the agreement. “We are working to try and reach an agreement”, Mann added. (CG)