(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM)) The European Union has extended a freeze on sanctions imposed against Iran over its nuclear program by one week as intensive negotiations continue between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries for a final deal.
"To allow more time for the ongoing negotiations to reach a long term solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, the Council has prolonged until 7 July 2015 the suspension of EU restrictive measures agreed in the Joint Plan of Action with Iran dated 24 November 2013," a European Council statement said.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama acknowledged on Tuesday that Iranian negotiators have talked about backtracking from a framework agreement on its nuclear program, endangering ongoing negotiations to finalise the deal.
"There has been a lot of talk on the other side from the Iranian negotiators about whether, in fact, they can abide by some of the terms that came up in Lausanne," Obama was quoted by Reuters as saying at a news conference in Washington, referring to the framework deal reached in the Swiss city in April.
Six major powers and Iran have decided to extend an interim nuclear agreement until July 7 to allow more time for negotiations on a final deal, the United States said on Tuesday the deadline for a long-term accord.
"The P5+1 and Iran have decided to extend the measures under the Joint Plan of Action until July 7 to allow more time for negotiations to reach a long-term solution ... on the Iran nuclear issue," Marie Harf, senior adviser for strategic communications at the U.S. State Department, said.
The so-called "P5+1" are the six major powers negotiating with Iran - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
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