The women who made the Iran nuclear deal happen

The historic nuclear accord was reached in Vienna, Austria, on July 14,2015 between Iran and the P5+1

Three Western women - two European and one American - were central to a comprehensive deal reached to curb Iran's nuclear programme

Leading the political side of the negotiations was Federica Mogherini, the European Union's chief diplomat and former Italian foreign minister.

Federica Mogherini took over the post in November 2014 from Baroness Catherine Ashton - who has also been cited for playing a key role by building good relations with Iran

 

Alongside Federica Mogherini was her deputy, Helga Schmid. Credited with having immense technical knowledge, her colleagues have called her a "linchpin" in the negotiations and "the ringleader".

At the table for the Americans was Wendy Sherman, her country's first female undersecretary of political affairs and a veteran of nuclear negotiations.

She was one of the chief architects of the Clinton administration's North Korea nuclear policy and had taken the lead on the US team's nuclear talks with Iran since 2011.