Nuclear talks aimed at securing the outline of an agreement between Iran and world powers have been extended through Wednesday, the U.S. said just hours before a critical deadline, Press TV reported.
"We've made enough progress in the last days to merit staying until Wednesday. There are several difficult issues still remaining," said a statement from State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf, who is currently in the Swiss city Lausanne where talks are underway.
Earlier Tuesday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters in Washington that U.S. negotiators intended to continue talks Wednesday "if necessary and as long as the conversations continue to be productive."
"If we are making progress toward the finish line, then we should keep going," he said.
Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers, which includes the U.S., China, France, Russia, the UK, plus Germany, set March 31 for negotiators to reach an outline of a much sought after deal on Iran's nuclear program.
Negotiators have been engaged in marathon talks in Lausanne to try to reach the deal ahead of an end of June deadline for a final accord.
Two previous deadlines for a deal have passed as negotiators seek to curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
Tehran has long maintained that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful civilian purposes but world powers are suspicious that the program could potentially be used for military purposes.