The six nations that have been debating a plan to curb Iran's nuclear program and ease economic sanctions will hit the deadline for a framework agreement at 6 p.m. ET. Ahead of that deadline, there are signs both that a deal is in the works — and that it might not be a sweeping arrangement that lays out future terms.
Early Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says he believes an agreement will be reached by the end of the day.
"Lavrov said the chances for a deal are high," NPR's Corey Flintoff reports from Moscow, "as long as none of the parties raises the stakes at the last minute."
The Associated Press reports that the parties involved are now preparing "to issue a general statement agreeing to continue talks." The news agency says that later today, we should expect to see a joint statement that announces a framework understanding.
At the meetings in Lausanne, Switzerland, diplomats from Iran, the U.S., Russia, France, Britain, China, and Germany have struggled to resolve key issues such as how and when sanctions on Iran could be lifted, as well as how Iran's existing nuclear stockpile should be stored.
Their goal has been to hammer out a framework arrangement on political terms. More technical and specific aspects would then be included in a separate round of talks, with a June deadline for a final agreement.
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