US warns Iran even as it says deadline extension possible

Western officials said late on Monday it was not clear whether Iran and six world major powers would be able to reach a comprehensive deal on the country's nuclear programme in time to meet aninternational deadline.

The statement came after talks between the central Asian country and the US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China resumed on Friday.

Read more: Iran nuclear talks to resume

The US warned Iran the preliminary nuclear agreement framework reached in April must remain the basis for the talks, after Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's attempts to backtrack on some crucial elements of the deal, including the degree of supervision of nuclear facilities, the date of lifting of the sanctions and how long Iran’s stockpile of nuclear fuel would be frozen.

“We do see a path forward to get a comprehensive agreement that meets our bottom lines,” said a senior United States official.

This path forward has to be based on the Lausanne parameters. Period.

“This path forward has to be based on the Lausanne parameters. Period.”

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said on Monday that negotiations would likely see the initial 30 June deadline pushed back.

“Our negotiators will remain in Vienna past the deadline in pursuit of a final agreement.”

Accendo Markets Head of Research Mike van Dulken commented that the potential agreement that the seven powers are about to ink “in the coming days”, is “flooding the market with Iranian oil and driving prices lower again.”

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