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Tentative sanctions deal reached with Iran: report

by Elliot Smilowitz - 07/04/15 8:19 AM ET

A tentative agreement has been reached to relieve economic sanctions on Iran, the Associated Press reported Saturday morning.

Two diplomats told AP a deal has been reached by experts on both sides, but senior officials from Iran and six world powers still have yet to sign off on the agreement. This part of the long-term nuclear deal outlines which sanctions will be lifted and when.

Iranian leaders have called for sanctions to be lifted as soon as a full deal is reached, but the negotiating world powers want to wait until they can verify that Iran is complying with restrictions on its nuclear program, AP reported.

{mosads}The sides are seeking to to beat a July 7 deadline to reach a deal.

The Obama administration is hoping Iran will slow or stop its nuclear arms research in exchange for economic sanctions relief.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a video message Friday that an agreement was close.

“Getting to yes requires the courage to compromise, the self-confidence to be flexible, the maturity to be reasonable, the wisdom to set aside illusions and the audacity to break old habits,” Zarif said Friday.

The Obama administration is hoping Iran will slow or stop its nuclear arms research in exchange for economic sanctions relief.

A sticking point in recent talks has been how much access is granted to inspectors researching Iran’s military and scientific facilities.

Both sides had originally agreed upon a June 30 deadline for a final deal, but that date was extended earlier this week when a compromise was not in reach.

– Updated at 8:35 a.m.

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