With the U.S.-imposed deadline for the Iranian nuclear deal expired on Tuesday, a one-week extension was announced by the Obama administration as western leaders continue scrambling in an attempt to salvage the agreement.
The announcement came as an open admission that finalizing terms for the “joint plan of action” ahead of the June 30 deadline was impossible .
Iran has for months refused to agree to frequent inspections by the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency of its military bases which house many of its nuclear development sites.
Given the ongoing recalcitrance of Iranian leaders, the likelihood of striking agreement on final details within a week is slim, which could leave the Obama administration holding an empty bag.