Reaction from around the world to deal reached by US, Iran, others on Iran's nuclear program

WASHINGTON — Iran, the United States and five other world powers said Thursday they had reached an agreement outlining limits on Iran's nuclear program to block it from developing atomic weapons. It directs negotiators to work toward a final accord by this summer. Here's a look at some of the reaction to the pact:

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"I am convinced that if this framework leads to a final comprehensive deal, it will make our country, our allies and our world safer. It is a good deal, a deal that meets our core objectives." — U.S. President Barack Obama.

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"We have no illusions about the fact that we have a ways to travel. We still have many technical details that have to be addressed." — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

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"Our program is exclusively peaceful, has always been and always will remain exclusively peaceful." — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

"The smiles in Lausanne are disconnected from the sad reality where Iran refuses to make concessions on the nuclear issue and continues to threaten Israel and the rest of the countries in the Middle East." — Yuval Steinitz, Israeli cabinet minister for intelligence and strategic affairs.

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"We are closer than ever to an agreement that makes it impossible for Iran to possess nuclear weapons. That is a great credit to all negotiating partners." — German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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"This is well beyond what many of us thought possible even 18 months ago and a good basis for what I believe could be a very good deal. But there is still more work to do." — British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

"We are convinced that the final agreement on the nuclear dossier could have positive effects both with Iran and for developments in various other crisis areas." — Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

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