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One-Day Extension For Iran Nuclear Deal Talks

Diplomatic talks to reach a nuclear deal with Iran have passed a midnight deadline, with no sign of a breakthrough.

Negotiators have agreed to extend the talks by one more day, the US State Department announced.

Spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement: "We've made enough progress in the last days to merit staying until Wednesday.

"There are several difficult issues still remaining."

An Iranian negotiator said his team would stay "as long as necessary" to reach an agreement.

For nearly a week the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China have been trying to break the negotiations deadlock in the Swiss town of Lausanne.

Western powers aim to stop Iran from having the capacity to develop a nuclear bomb, in exchange for easing international sanctions that are crippling its economy.

But stumbling blocks, relating to Iran's enrichment research and the speed of lifting sanctions, are threatening to scupper an agreement which could end a standoff over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

The aim is to reach an understanding that could serve as the basis for a final accord to be reached by the end of June.

All sides say an agreement is possible but uncertain.

"We are moving forward, but it's complicated," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told reporters in Lausanne.

Meanwhile, a German delegation source said: "It remains an open question whether we will succeed", adding that it was "too early to think about stopping the clock, (though that) may perhaps prove necessary".

Diplomats said China's foreign minister had returned to Beijing, but would be represented at the talks by his deputy.

The talks, which have lasted nearly two years, have already been extended twice since an interim agreement was reached in November 2013.

Most of the parties had indicated they did not want another extension, although they also said the interim agreement would remain in place until 1 July.

The six powers want more than a 10-year suspension of Iran's most sensitive nuclear work.

Tehran, which denies it is trying to develop nuclear weapons, is demanding a swift end to sanctions in exchange for temporary limits on its atomic activities.

Iran says it wants nuclear enrichment only for energy, science, industry and medicine.

But many countries fear Iran could use the technology to make weapons-grade uranium.

There is a sense of added urgency with the US Congress warning it will consider imposing new sanctions on Iran if no agreement is reached this week.

In turn, US President Barack Obama has threatened to veto any sanctions moves by the Republican-dominated Congress.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposes the negotiations, said the agreement being put together in Lausanne sends the message "that Iran stands to gain by its aggression".

Iran said the key issue was lifting sanctions quickly.

The country's nuclear negotiator, Majid Takhteravanchi, said: "There will be no agreement if the sanctions issue cannot be resolved.

"This issue is very important for us."