Final round of Iran nuclear talks starts in Vienna

The sixth and final round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group has begun in Vienna.

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The deadline for a deal expires on 20 July, although this could be extended if an agreement is not made in time.

Iran insists it is enriching uranium to fuel power plants, and wants international sanctions to end.

But the West has accused Iran of having military intentions, and wants it to scale back enrichment to ensure the uranium cannot be used in weapons.

The EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is leading the negotiations on the part of the P5+1 group, which comprises the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif heads the Iranian delegation. He said in an address on Wednesday that Iran was ready to take steps to ensure the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme but that it would not "kneel in submission" to foreign powers.

Both sides are hoping to build on an interim deal agreed in Geneva in November that saw Iran curb enrichment in return for sanctions relief.

But progress since the Geneva deal has been slow, with the last round of talks in May proving unfruitful.

Differences reportedly remain over how much uranium enrichment capacity Iran should be allowed to keep.

Iranian officials have suggested that the deadline could be extended for another six months to allow negotiations to continue.

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