VIENNA (AP) — Here are the latest developments involving negotiations between Iran and world powers in Vienna over the Islamic Republic’s contested nuclear program (all times local):
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10:25 a.m.
Pakistan hopes news of a deal over Iran’s contested nuclear program will help it complete a gas pipeline linking it to the Islamic Republic.
Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz said Tuesday he “welcomed” the deal.
Washington for years has opposed Pakistan’s bid to import natural gas from Tehran. Pakistan needs the pipeline to supply power to its weak electrical grid.
A Pakistani defense analyst, retired Gen. Talat Masood, told The Associated Press: “Because of this agreement … I think Washington will stop opposing the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.”
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10:05 a.m.
Israel’s prime minister says a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers is a “bad mistake of historic proportions.”
Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that an accord with Iran will allow it “to continue to pursue its aggression and terror in the region.”
Netanyahu has been at the forefront of efforts to block an agreement that would lift sanctions on Iran. Iranian officials repeatedly have threatened to destroy Israel in the past. Iran also backs militant groups that attack it.
The talks have been aimed at reaching a final deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. Iran long has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. The West fears it could be used to build an atomic bomb.
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10 a.m.
The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog says a “roadmap” has been signed between it and Iran as a final deal has been struck over the Islamic Republic’s contested nuclear program.
Yukiya Amano, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, made the comments in Vienna on Tuesday, just a short time after diplomats acknowledged a deal had been made between world powers and Iran.
Amano said Iranian Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi signed the roadmap. It calls for his agency, with Iran’s cooperation, to make an assessment of issues relating to possible military dimensions of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program by the end of 2015.
Amano says: “This is a significant step forward toward clarifying outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear program.”
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9:50 a.m.
World oil markets are reacting to news that a final deal has been struck between Iran and world powers over the Islamic Republic’s contested nuclear program.
In trading Tuesday, benchmark U.S. crude was down $1.20 in trading.
Iran is an OPEC member, but its oil production has been affected for years by sanctions over its nuclear program. Any easing of the sanctions could see Iran sell more oil, which could bring down crude prices.
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9:20 a.m.
An Israeli Cabinet minister says a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers gives the Islamic Republic a “license to kill.”
Miri Regev, a former military spokeswoman who serves as Israel’s culture and sports minister, said Tuesday that the deal was “bad for the free world (and) bad for humanity.”
Israel has been at the forefront of efforts to block an accord that would lift sanctions on Iran. Iranian officials repeatedly have threatened to destroy Israel in the past. Iran also has backed militants groups that have attacked Israel.
Regev called on further lobbying against the deal reached in Vienna and said Congress could still block it.
The talks have been aimed at reaching a final deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. Iran long has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. The West fears it could be used to build an atomic bomb.
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8:45 a.m.
A senior Western diplomat says a landmark Iran nuclear agreement has been reached.
The diplomat made the comments Tuesday amid nonstop negotiations between Iran and world powers in Vienna.
The diplomat says it includes a compromise between Washington and Tehran that would allow U.N. inspectors to press for visits to Iranian military sites as part of their monitoring duties. Iranian state television earlier rejected such a demand.
The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement, expected after a 10:30 a.m. final meeting between all negotiators.
The talks have been aimed at reaching a final deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. Iran long has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. The West fears it could be used to build an atomic bomb.
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Associated Press writers George Jahn and Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
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8:35 a.m.
A senior Western diplomat says a landmark Iran nuclear agreement has been reached Tuesday after clearing final obstacles. The diplomat says it includes a compromise between Washington and Tehran that would allow U.N. inspectors to press for visits to Iranian military sites as part of their monitoring duties.
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8:15 a.m.
Officials are saying the last meeting between negotiators from Iran and world powers will be at 10:30 a.m. in Vienna. They say that will be followed by a news conference, without elaborating.
A diplomat earlier speaking to The Associated Press said a deal likely was to be announced by Tuesday afternoon in Vienna. Iranian state television has said a joint statement marking the conclusion of nuclear talks with world powers will be read around noon.
The talks are aimed at reaching a final deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. Iran long has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. The West fears it could be used to build an atomic bomb.
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7:55 a.m.
Iranian state television is reporting that a joint statement marking the conclusion of nuclear talks with world powers will be read around noon in Vienna.
The TV report Tuesday said the statement will be read by European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
It did not elaborate, though it called the talks Tuesday the “final steps in a 12-year marathon.”
A diplomat earlier speaking to The Associated Press said a deal likely was to be announced by Tuesday afternoon in Vienna.
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7:45 a.m.
Iranian state television is rejecting that military site inspections will be included in a final nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and world powers.
In its report early Tuesday, state television said it was quoting a source close to Iranian nuclear negotiators as saying: “Some Western media is resorting to propaganda aimed at implying that Iran’s red lines, including inspections to military sites, has not been observed in the final” deal.
The report also said floating that idea was meant to make the deal look like a win for the West.
A senior diplomat earlier told The Associated Press that the draft final deal includes a compromise between Washington and Tehran that would allow United Nations inspectors to press for visits to Iranian military sites as part of their monitoring duties.
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7:30 a.m.
A diplomat says a deal between Iran and world powers over the Islamic Republic’s contested nuclear program is likely to be announced by Tuesday afternoon in Vienna.
Another diplomat told The Associated Press that final drafting of the deal was still going on at daybreak Tuesday.
The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity as negotiations remained in flux.
The talks are aimed at reaching a final deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. Iran long has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. The West fears it could be used to build an atomic bomb.
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Associated Press writers George Jahn and Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
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