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1st LD: Iran's FM says no deal on Monday, urges more diplomacy

Xinhua, July 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said a much-anticipated nuclear deal could not be ready on Monday while urging world powers for more diplomacy, Iranian media reported.

Zarif answered "No" when asked whether the nuclear deal could be reached Monday night, semi-official Iran Students' News Agency reported.

Zarif said that it is "possible" that the talks between Iran and the world powers to reach an end on Tuesday.

After more than two weeks of bargaining in Austria's capital Vienna, Iran and the six major world powers are heading toward a deal to terminate the decade-old standoff over Iran's nuclear program.

The talks have missed the previous deadlines of June 30 and July 7, and is set to miss the Monday deadline as some tough issues remain unresolved.

The main contentious issues include the United Nation's arms embargo on Iran, implementation of the international community's supervision over Iran's nuclear program and the pace of sanctions relief.

Iran has insisted on lifting all sanctions, including a UN embargo of conventional weapons. However, western powers are reluctant to give in on the issue, voicing concerns that missiles could be used to deliver nuclear war heads. Endit