With a deal in danger of disappearing, Secretary of State John Kerry and his fellow negotiators still searching for resolution in Switzerland. But nuclear talks now stretching not only the definition of deadline but also of agreement with officials now hoping for a simple statement of goals, rather than the hard commitments they originally intended. The White House placed the blame on Iran:

 

While the talks have been productive, we have not yet received the specific tangible commitments the international community seeks.

 

Iran shifted it right back to the West:

 

And I certainly hope that our colleagues will recognize the fact that this is a unique opportunity that will not be repeated and they need to take advantage of this opportunity.

 

The fact is, extension have been the name of the game of these talks since the sides reached aninterim agreement in November 2013. The talks were extended the following July, extended again that November, and then on Tuesday, and today extended yet again, albeit just in 24-hour increments. The deadline for a final agreement is June 30th. 

 

The biggest sticking point may simply be "trust." Foreign Minister Javad Zarif leads the Iranian delegation but Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei holds the power. The same supreme leader who presides over a country the U.S. accuses of supporting terrorism, and who has helped cultivate a long, deep history of anti-Americanism at home. Like the "Death to America" chant, we witnessed our last visit to Iran. 

 

That toughness maybe reaping dividends at the negotiating table, where long time nuclear negotiator Robert Einhorn says Iran is driving the harder bargain.

 

The Iranians may have concluded that the U.S. team was under some pressure to get it--a deal that the U.S. and its partners would make all the remaining concessions.

 

This interim deadline was originally intended by the U.S. and its western partners to be an early test of whether a broader agreement is possible and whether Iran crucially is willing to makeconcession for that broader agreement. These delays could of course be last-minute posturing, but at a minimum, Wolf they leave that question open. I think we need a lot of expectations management for what to expect out of an agreement if it happens, and that's if it happens.