Berlin, Mar 27, IRNA -- German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier may head to Lausanne over the weekend to join the Iran nuclear talks, according to a German official.

Addressing a routine weekly government press briefing in Berlin on Friday, foreign ministry spokeman Martin Schaefer said while it was likely that Steinmeier would join the negotiations in Switzerland, a final decision had not been made yet.

Any decision would be made in coordination with our partners in the E3 plus 3, especially London and Paris, he added.

Asked by IRNA whether a deal was imminent by March 31, Schaefer said there was 'realistic hope' that a political agreement on a nuclear accord could be reached by the dateline.

He reiterated an agreement was 'within reach' for the first time since the negotiations started 12 years ago. Schaefer expressed hope that a comprehensive nuclear deal would also open the doors for a closer political as well as economic cooperation with Iran.

He reaffirmed Iran was 'quite an important power factor' in the Middle East whose influence could be key to resolving the crises in the region.The German diplomat called also for a rapprochement betweeen Tehran and Riyad amid the deteriorating situation in Yemen and other regional crises.

By IRNA