'Roller coaster' Iran talks show progress
US officials expect talks may have to resume next week to conclude a political accord on an Iran nuclear deal by the end of the month.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — In a demonstration of what one US diplomat called “roller coaster” negotiations, there were signs March 17 that six world powers and Iran may need until the end of March to conclude a political agreement on major elements of a final Iran nuclear accord, after some hopes were raised March 16 that a deal might be possibly concluded by the weekend, when, among other things, the Persian New Year holiday begins.
Iranian officials said gaps on technical issues had narrowed to one major issue — thought to involve the scope of research and development that Iran could conduct under a final nuclear deal. However, a senior US official said March 17 that while technical talks between top Iran and US nuclear experts had been very productive, there was still a long way to go.
