Kerry: Iran backed out of deal

Foreign secretaries from Britain, France, and the Russians are coming crucially tomorrow. And of course principally John Kerry, the US Secretary of State. Here, they say, to narrow the gap with the Iranians.

The plan on the table is this, a temporary freeze in Iran's nuclear activities in return for a slight easing of the sanctions against them - the idea to buy time for a more comprehensive agreement, may be next year.

These talks have stumbled on without any progress for ten years, so why the sudden impetus now? It's because sanctions in Iran are biting, and the new moderate leadership there needs to prove to the hardliners in Tehran their talks in the West will bear fruit.

The Americans meanwhile, desperately need a foreign policy victory in the Middle East.

The interesting question is how far they are prepared to go alienating their own allies in the region. Israel said today this was a terrible deal. They do not trust Tehran an inch. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli premier said that this is a "mistake of historic proportions".