A senior US State Department official says the 2013 interim nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries will be extended through Monday to provide more time for talks on a final agreement.

"To allow for the additional time to negotiate, we are taking the necessary technical steps for the measures of the (interim nuclear deal) to remain in place through July 13," the official said on Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, the European Union extended a freeze on sanctions against Iran until Monday.

"To allow more time for the ongoing negotiations to reach a long term solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, the (European) Council has prolonged until 13 July 2015 the suspension of EU restrictive measures," a council statement said.

Iran and the P5+1 countries - the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany - have been engaged in crucial talks in the Austrian capital Vienna towards reaching a landmark agreement over Tehran�s nuclear energy program.

The negotiating sides missed an initial deadline of June 30 and all parties agreed on a new July 7 deadline. Now it seems that negotiations will continue at least until Monday.

By Press TV