Iran's nuclear talks with world powers could go beyond June deadline: Iranian negotiator

Talks to seal a deal over Tehran's nuclear program are likely to extended beyond the self-imposed June 30 deadline, Iran's senior nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi said in Vienna Wednesday, state IRIB TV reported.

"The talks will continue until June 30 and may even go beyond that," Araqchi said upon arriving at Vienna airport for a new round of talks with representatives from world powers.

"We are not bound by time, but by the goal of reaching a good agreement, even if it needs more time," he was quoted as saying.

The late June deadline was agreed by the negotiators in November 2014 after failed attempt to reach a comprehensive nuclear deal as the parties saw huge divide in limiting Iran's uranium enrichment capacity and the steps to lift sanctions that are crippling the Iranian economy.

Iran and world powers will resume new negotiation rounds Wednesday in a stint to finalize an accord regarding the country's disputed nuclear issue.

Since 2008, Iran and the so-called P5+1 group, namely the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany, held several rounds of talks on a comprehensive nuclear accord.

Iran's nuclear program has long been a subject of concern for Western powers, believing it to be geared towards developing nuclear weaponry. Tehran denies the allegations, insisting that its nuclear program is purely peaceful, and vows to maintain its inalienable right to develop its civilian atomic platform.

Western powers have imposed rounds of diverse sanctions on Iran. In recent nuclear talks, Iranian officials have urged for total removal of economic and financial sanctions against Iran if a possible nuclear deal could be implemented. However, the western powers insist on the gradual removal of sanctions. Endit