Negotiators make headway on Iran sanctions, past nuclear activity

Secretary of State John F. Kerry, center, during nuclear talks with the Iranian foreign minister in Vienna.The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency said Saturday he hopes to complete his controversial investigation of Iran’s past nuclear activities by December, potentially removing a key obstacle to completion of world powers’ sweeping nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic.

Meanwhile, diplomats said there has also been progress on another disputed issue in the negotiations, the sanctions relief that Iran will receive as part of the deal. Negotiators reached a tentative agreement on the structure and schedule for sanctions relief, though more work and a high-level blessing is…