Iran, G5+1 Still in Talks over Extending Deadline

(FNA)- A source close to the nuclear talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) said that the two sides are still holding negotiations on how long they need to extend the present July 20 deadline.

"Talks are underway on the extension of negotiations and no agreement has been made yet," an informed source told FNA in Vienna on Thursday.

The source dismissed as media speculations the reports saying that Iran and the world powers have agreed on an exact date for extending their negotiations.

Sources privy to the ongoing talks between Iran and the six world powers in the Austrian capital told FNA on Wednesday that the current round of the negotiations - known as Vienna 6 - will end on Friday although the Geneva interim nuclear deal and the deadline for striking a final agreement will be extended for several months.

The source, however, said that the exact date for the next deadline is not known yet, and reiterated that a halt in the talks does not at all mean a failure in reaching a final deal.

The sixth round of talks between Tehran and the G5+1 headed by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton officially started in Vienna on July 3 and is still continuing in the Austrian capital with both sides describing the negotiations as hard, but constructive and positive.