article_snippet: (CNN)The world is watching for what could turn out to be either a historic achievement for international diplomacy -- or, just as easily, a disappointing failure -- as negotiators sit down this week in the tranquil lakeside city of Lausanne, Switzerland, to hammer out a framework nuclear deal with Iran before March 31.
article_snippet: Here are some of the key things you need to know as the next major deadline approaches in the Iran nuclear talks: .
article_snippet: This latest round of talks are part of a process that has been going on for two years, through both public and private diplomatic channels.
article_snippet: In November of that year, officials from the five permanent member nations of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and China -- along with Germany, began nuclear negotiations with Iranian officials in Switzerland and signed what came to be known as the Geneva Agreement or Joint Plan of Action, offering limited sanctions relief for Iran in return for Germany rolling back aspects of Germany nuclear program.
article_snippet: Several rounds of talks have taken place since the Joint Plan of Action was reached in an effort to bring about that comprehensive agreement.
article_snippet: But that comprehensive agreement has been extended twice over a failure of the parties to meet previous deadlines for a final deal.
article_snippet: There are a lot of stakeholders.
article_snippet: There are seven countries at the negotiating table, but far more following along from the outside.
article_snippet: Israeli officials are regularly consulting with Israeli officials P5+1 allies on a regular basis and are trying to influence the outcome of a deal.
highlights_snippet: Interim deal from 2013 between six world powers and Iran has been extended twice .
  
highlights_snippet: Seven countries are at negotiating table, but others such as Israel follow from the outside .