Iran nuclear negotiations cut short; Hassan Rouhani’s mother dies

Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program ended prematurely Friday with the announcement that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s mother had died.

The president’s brother, Hossein Fereydoun, was one of the key Iranian officials leading the discussions in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The talks are expected to resume next week, but the Iranian delegation departed Switzerland after the announcement of the passing of Sakineh Peivandi.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry released a statement extending his condolences for the family’s loss, especially on Nowruz, the Iranian new year celebration that marks the spring equinox and is traditionally celebrated with family.

Mr. Kerry had earlier in the day taken the opportunity on the first day of spring to express his hopes the U.S. and Iran could reach an agreement.

“As I noted in my Nowruz greeting last year, the United States and Iran have endured many harsh winters,” Mr. Kerry said. “But now, with the coming of spring, we can all embrace this opportunity to move toward a better future.”

“It is my sincere hope that if Iran’s leaders make the right choices, the necessary choices, in the ongoing nuclear talks, that this new year and this new spring will mark a better future both for the Iranian people and for the world,” Mr. Kerry continued.

The State Department said Mr. Kerry is expected to travel to Europe this weekend to meet with his French and British counterparts before talks resume next week.