John Kerry, US secretary of state, said diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear programme had “earned the benefit of the doubt” after six major powers and Tehran gave themselves another seven months to strike a deal.
The P5+1, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the US, UK, France, Russia and China – and Germany, agreed to extend the so-called joint plan of action, under which the talks have taken place, until the end of June 2015 after failing to reach a deal after days of talks in Vienna.
Their intention is to hammer out a broad political agreement on Iran’s nuclear ambitions – and the rollback of international sanctions – within four months.