Diplomats: Provisional Iran Nuclear Deal Expected Sunday

Negotiators at the Iran nuclear talks plan to announce Monday that they've reached a historic deal capping nearly a decade of diplomacy that would curb the country's atomic program in return for sanctions relief, two diplomats told The Associated Press on Sunday.

The envoys said a provisional agreement may be reached even earlier -- by late Sunday. But they cautioned that final details of the pact were still being worked out. Once it is complete, a formal, final agreement would be open to review by officials in the capitals of Iran and the six world powers at the talks, they said.

Senior U.S. and Iranian officials suggested, however, there might not be enough time to reach a deal by the end of Sunday and that the drafting of documents could bleed into Monday.

All of the officials, who are at the talks in Vienna, demanded anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the negotiations publicly.

"We are working hard, but a deal tonight is simply logistically impossible," the Iranian official said, noting that the agreement will run roughly 100 pages.

The senior U.S. official declined to speculate as to the timing of any agreement or announcement but said "major issues remain to be resolved."

But the Iranian FARS News Agency denies the AP report: "A source close to the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the six world powers underway in Vienna, Austria, rejected reports that the two sides will reach a provisional agreement to be sent to the capitals for review before its final approval. "Iran's negotiating team has sufficient authority for striking an agreement with the G5+1 in case of abiding by the redlines," the source told FNA on the condition of anonymity."

The source's remarks came after the Associated Press reported that the diplomats say negotiators at the Iran nuclear talks are expected to reach a provisional agreement Sunday.

The source reiterated that only an agreement is acceptable for Tehran that is based on the Islamic System's redlines.

He added that in case of striking a final deal, the agreement has to be approved by the Iranian parliament in the same manner that it has to be approved by the US Congress, reminding that all agreements need to be approved by countries' legislatures to become a law and there is nothing special in this regard.

The source reminded the Iranian parliament's law on protecting the country's nuclear rights and achievements that was signed by President Rouhani for implementation by his government earlier today, and said the legislature should, at least, supervise the precise and proper implementation of the final deal if it is struck and due to the same reason, it should be informed of the deal.

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