Why Iran Nuclear Talks Failed To Meet Deadline

The U.S. and Iran agreed to extend negotiations over Iran's nuclear program for four more months.

The move came after more than two weeks of intensive negotiations in Vienna failed to bridge the divide over uranium enrichment by Iran, with Iran on the one side, and the U.S. the U.K., Germany, France, Russia and China on the other.

The negotiations are meant to reach a comprehensive agreement on Iran's nuclear program. Western powers are worried that Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb.

The White House's decision to extend the negotiation deadline has been met with sharp criticism — Illinois Republican Senator Mark Kirk said, "we can't let Iran buy more time to make a nuclear bomb."

Iran's government has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for energy and scientific research.

The extension comes as hot wars have broken out in Iraq and in Gaza, in both of which Iran is a key player.

Karim Sadjadpour, a leading researcher on Iran, discusses the extension of nuclear talks with Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson.