A deal is closer than ever, but we are not there yet.
Those words from the German Foreign Minister as intense negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue went into their fifth day in Vienna.
The US, the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China began talks with Iranian officials on Tuesday.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German Foreign Minister, said: “We have never been so close, and the atmosphere in these talks is quite constructive. But we should not forget there are still many topics on which there is still some distance. Therefore, it now depends on Iran, if they seize the opportunity to reach an agreement.”
Officials are hoping to reach a deal before a self-imposed deadline of Monday.
The aim of the pact would be for Iran to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of western sanctions.