Iran nuclear deal unlikely by June 30, French envoy to US says

An Iran nuclear deal is not likely by June 30 because technical details will remain to define and Iran will not get sanctions relief before the end of the year in the best of cases, western ambassadors said on Tuesday.

 

Six major powers are seeking to negotiate an agreement under which Iran would limit its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of economic sanctions that have crippled its economy.

 

Envoys to Washington from Britain, France and Germany, three of the P5+1 group that also includes China, Russia and the United States, sketched out their expectations for the end game as a self-imposed June 30 deadline approaches.

 

“It’s very likely that we won’t have an agreement before the end of June or even (right) after,” French ambassador Gerard Araud said in an appearance at the Atlantic Council think tank.

 

The Iranians want to force the six powers’ ministers to decide the issues, rather than lower-level officials, Araud said, saying he expected some melodrama toward the end with late nights and doors slammed as both sides jockey for a deal.

 

Read More: Iran nuclear deal unlikely by June 30, French envoy to US says – Middle East – Jerusalem Post