Nuclear talks between Iran and the so-called P5+1 have been extended by three days after disagreements over the lifting of an arms embargo on the country.
Western diplomats remained hopeful that a deal would be reached and the differences between Iran and the five UN Security Council members plus Germany, who are conducting the talks, continued to narrow with every passing hour and that only a few significant issues remained unresolved. UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said there was “clear will on both sides” to get the deal completed.
One of the key issues remaining is the lifting of arms embargoes imposed in 2007 and 2010, which Russia and China are pushing, while the US, UK, France and Germany insist on keeping the sanctions in place, due to concerns that more arms flowing to the Middle East would only serve to fuel conflict in the region.
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