The European Union has extended a freeze on sanctions imposed against Iran over its nuclear program by one week as intensive�negotiations continue between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries for�a final deal.

"To allow more time for the ongoing negotiations to reach a long term solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, the Council has prolonged until 7 July 2015 the suspension of EU restrictive measures," a European Council statement said on Tuesday.

It added that the decision was made based on a deal, known under the Geneva Joint Plan of Action, between Iran and six world powers in�November 2013.

Under the deal, the six countries undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities.

The EU�s move on Tuesday came as Iran�s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held crucial talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Vienna.



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"] Iran�s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (3rd R) and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov (3rd L) hold talks in Vienna, Austria, on June 30, 2015. � IRNA[/caption]

 

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council � the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia � plus Germany are holding talks to finalize the text of a possible deal over Iran�s nuclear program by July 7.

The two sides reached a mutual understanding on the key parameters of the potential deal, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in the Swiss city of Lausanne on April 2.

By Press TV