Iran is demanding the lifting of U.N. sanctions against its ballistic missile program as part of the current nuclear negotiations.
“The Iranians want the ballistic missile sanctions lifted. They say there is no reason to connect it with the nuclear issue, a view that is difficult to accept,” according to a Western official who spoke to Reuters. “There’s no appetite for that on our part.”
An anonymous Iranian official also said Tehran is seeking the termination of an arms embargo, Reuters reports. (RELATED: Walker: Obama Should Abandon Iran Nuke Talks) This is one of many issues delaying an agreement, the deadline already pushed from June 30 to July 7.
On Sunday, Secretary of State John Kerry said negotiation partners are not “where we need to be on several of the most difficult issues,” speaking to reporters in Vienna, where talks are being held. Kerry said “hard choices” are needed if an agreement is to be reached this week, according to the BBC.
Tehran is negotiating with the P5+1, made up of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council- the U.S., U.K., France, China and Russia- as well as Germany.
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