Western powers reach deal with Iran over its nuclear program
By Ann Curry, Special Correspondent, NBC News
11/23/13
Switzerland's Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during a meeting at the Intercontinental Hotel prior to talks about Iran's nuclear program in Geneva on Nov. 23, 2013. (Martial Trezzini / AFP - Getty Images)
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GENEVA -- Secretary of State John Kerry and leaders from five other world powers early Sunday reached a nuclear deal with Iran, following intense negotiations that took place over several days in Geneva. NBC News confirmed through multiple sources that a deal was reached, a historic breakthrough in the world's decade-long nuclear standoff with Iran, and in the 35-year-long diplomatic freeze between Iran and the United States.
The deal, which has yet to be signed, was struck with astonishing speed given the history of failed negotiations, coming in just the third round of talks over less than two months. The breakthrough also comes less than three months after Iran's new President Hassan Rouhani promised, in an interview with NBC News, to dramatically alter Iran’s relationship with the world.
Iran and six of the world's powers – the United States, France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia -- agreed on a "first step deal” that is meant to limit advancements in Iran's nuclear program in exchange for easing some of the economic sanctions that have deeply hurt Iran's economy.
All six world powers had sent in their foreign ministers hours before the deal was announced, and several purposely gave the impression it was their participation that was needed to carry the ball across the finish line. Once the ministers arrived, the negotiations set a marathon pace, not ending until about 3 a.m. local time in Geneva (9 p.m. ET).
While the "first step" deal is currently set to last for a period of just six months, it has set off a massive sense of relief on all sides in Geneva as it is expected to make Iran less capable of building a nuclear bomb for the time being, while at the same time easing the financial pain Iran's economy has been enduring under the sanctions.
Perhaps most significantly, it also makes a final comprehensive nuclear agreement between Iran and the world suddenly more possible. Details of the deal are still a closely guarded secret, but...
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