White House: Iran nuke talks could continue beyond deadline

Nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers could be extended past today's deadline for the outline of an agreement if enough progress is made to justify it, the White House said.
Today's statement by White House press secretary Josh Earnest suggested that talks meant to produce an outline that would allow the sides to continue negotiations until the June 30 final deadline had not bridged all gaps, but that the sides were working to produce a text with few specifics, accompanied by documents outlining areas where further talks were needed.
"If it's necessary, and, when I say if it's necessary I mean if it's midnight and a deal has not been reached but the conversations continue to be productive, we'll be prepared to continue the talks into tomorrow," said Earnest.

He said President Barack Obama had been updated on the latest status of the talks. He also said it was possible that Obama would be in touch with members of the negotiating team. "If we are making progress toward the finish line, than we should keep going," Earnest added.
Officials earlier said that they hoped to wrap up six days of marathon talks with a statement agreeing to continue negotiations in a new phase to control Iran's nuclear ambitions.
They had set a deadline of Tuesday for a framework agreement, and later softened that wording to a framework understanding, between Iran and the so-called P5+1 nations - the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China. After intense negotiations, obstacles remained on uranium enrichment, where stockpiles of enriched uranium should be stored, limits on Iran's nuclear research and development and the timing and scope of sanctions relief among other issues.

Senior Iranian negotiator Hamid Baeedinejad told reporters his side "can stay as long as necessary" to reach an agreement.

The aim has been a joint statement is to be accompanied by additional documents that outline more detailed understandings, allowing the sides to claim enough progress has been made to merit a new round, officials said.
Iran has not yet signed off on the documents, one official said, meaning any understanding remains unclear.
The talks have already been extended twice as part of more than a decade of diplomatic attempts to curb Tehran's nuclear advance.
All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment on the talks on the record.

If the parties agree only to a broad framework that leaves key details unresolved, President Barack Obama could face stiff opposition from members of Congress who want to move forward with new Iran sanctions legislation. Lawmakers had agreed to hold off on such a measure through March while the parties negotiated.