International negotiations to cap Iran's nuclear ambitions failed to meet their November deadline. Rather than declare them failed, however, the seven countries agreed to extend the talks for another seven months. Despite few signs of progress, and the lack even of a framework agreement, the determination of the negotiators is to be applauded. A deal should be possible.
For more than a decade, Western nations have watched with alarm as Iran has nurtured a nuclear program that defies its declared rationale. A country that claims to harbor no nuclear weapon ambitions has been discovered to have clandestine nuclear facilities, has allegedly tested components that can be used for weapons, and has pursued the enrichment of uranium that far exceeds any nonmilitary use.
Last year, the "P5" countries — five countries that the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) allows to have nuclear weapons: China, Britain, France, Russia and the United States — and Germany struck an interim deal with Iran in which Tehran would halt the production of highly enriched uranium in exchange for a limited lifting of P5 economic sanctions that have crippled its economy. Between January and July of this year, the six countries held six rounds of negotiations in an attempt to close a deal by a July 20 deadline.