The State Department on Tuesday tried to downplay the week-long delay in the Iran nuclear talks by comparing it to a baseball game that’s tied after nine innings.
“This extension to the 7th [of July] is really to extend the relief period under the Joint Plan of Action,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said.
“It is, as I’ve said, a technical extension,” he added. “It’s like going into extra innings here, OK? In the same game.”
The Obama administration was widely expected to extend the talks past June 30, and officials announced the new deadline on Tuesday. State Department officials have said that “no one” is talking about big, lengthy extension, and no one has firmly ruled out another short-term delay.
Kirby also stressed to reporters that the Obama administration is not locked into agreeing to whatever deal might be available on the 7th.
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“It’s important because it provides a little extra breathing space, but nobody’s under any illusions, or trying to … race to, you know, that day as sort of, you know, gotta have it by.”
President Obama himself said Tuesday that he is prepared to walk away from a deal if in fact Iran starts sliding away from the broad parameters reached in early April.
