Negotiations leading to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

Talks towards a historic nuclear deal between Iran and major powers go into overtime on July 8 after stumbling over what one Western diplomat called "very, very, very tough" remaining issues.

Iran and UN nuclear monitors took a "major step" toward resolving remaining issues regarding the Islamic republic's disputed atomic programme, an Iranian spokesman said on July 7. 

Top ministers were due to meet July 6 seeking to conclude an unprecedented nuclear deal with Iran, on the eve of a deadline aiming to draw the curtain on almost two years of high-stakes negotiations.

Iran said July 1 it has recovered part of its gold reserves frozen under international sanctions after an accord sealed on the sidelines of nuclear negotiations with world powers.

Iran and six major powers gave themselves until July 7 to clinch a historic nuclear deal after a deadline to end marathon talks passed as the clock struck July 1, with no breakthrough in sight.

Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, departed Tehran for Vienna with nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi and Hossein Fereydoon, a brother and close aide to President Hassan Rouhani, for nuclear talks, state news agency IRNA reported on June 30.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he planned to meet his US counterpart John Kerry on June 30 in Vienna where global powers are engaged in make-or-break nuclear talks with Iran.

Iran is backtracking from an interim nuclear agreement with world powers three months ago, Western officials suggested on June 28, as U.S. and Iranian officials said talks on a final accord would likely run past a June 30 deadline. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will travel to Vienna on June 27 to join a final push for a comprehensive nuclear agreement with major powers, state media reported.

Iran's top leader has rejected a long-term freeze on nuclear research and supports banning international inspectors from accessing military sites as a deadline in negotiations with world powers approaches.