Differences persist on deadline day for Iran nuke talks

March 31, 2015 at 1:44 a.m. | Updated March 31, 2015 at 1:50 a.m.

by Associated Press

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, center, and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, second right, waits with U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, left, U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, second left, and others before a meeting with Russia, China, France, Germany, European Union and Iranian officials at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland Monday, March 30, 2015, during Iran nuclear talks. Negotiations over Iran's nuclear program are entering a critical phase with differences still remaining just two days before a deadline for the outline of an agreement. (AP Photo/Brendan Smialowski, Pool)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, center, and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, second right, waits with U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, left, U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, second left, and others before a meeting with Russia, China, France, Germany, European Union and Iranian officials at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland Monday, March 30, 2015, during Iran nuclear talks. Negotiations over Iran's nuclear program are entering a critical phase with differences still remaining just two days before a deadline for the outline of an agreement. (AP Photo/Brendan Smialowski, Pool)

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) - Diplomats are scrambling to reach consensus just hours ahead of a self-imposed deadline on the outline of an Iran nuclear deal.

Facing a midnight local time (6 p.m. EDT) Tuesday target to produce a framework agreement, substantial differences persisted. Top diplomats from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany were meeting alone and then with Iran's foreign ministers to try to bridge the remaining gaps. They hope to hammer out an understanding that would serve as the basis for a final accord to be reached by the end of June.

The latest round of negotiations began last Thursday in the Swiss town of Lausanne. Officials have cited some progress in the talks, which have as yet failed to nail down an agreement.

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