Vienna (AFP) - Talks towards a historic nuclear deal between Iran and major powers go into overtime Wednesday after stumbling over what one Western diplomat called "very, very, very tough" remaining issues.
Iran and six world powers have effectively given themselves until Friday to reach a deal by extending the terms of a 2013 interim accord under which Tehran has frozen parts of its nuclear programme in return for minor sanctions relief.


This is the latest in a string of extensions aimed at ending almost two years of talks to resolve a 13-year standoff with the Islamic republic after foreign ministers failed to bridge the last few gaps in Vienna last week.


"Removing the remaining brackets (in the text of the agreement), this seems to be very, very, very tough," the senior diplomat said Tuesday as an 11th day of talks stretched late into the night.


But the envoy insisted the negotiations, originally due to end on June 30, are "not an open-ended process. We've given ourselves a couple more days because we think it can be done."


Read more here