Iran and six world powers resumed talks on Thursday aimed at clinching a long-term deal later this month.

Iran and six world powers resumed talks on Thursday aimed at clinching a long-term deal later this month.

After informal contacts on Wednesday, chief negotiators from Iran, the United States, France, Germany, China, Russia and Britain began a full plenary session shortly after 9 a.m. (0700 GMT), the sixth round of talks in Vienna since February.

They have less than three weeks to try to agree on the future dimensions of Iran's uranium enrichment program and other issues if they are to meet a self-imposed July 20 deadline for a deal. Western officials privately acknowledge that an extension of the talks might be needed, according to Reuters.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on YouTube on Wednesday that Iran was ready to take steps to ensure its nuclear program remains peaceful but would not "kneel in submission" to do a deal with the powers.

Zarif held separate meetings on Wednesday afternoon with heads of Chinese and Russian negotiating delegations in Vienna discussing major issues about Vienna 6 nuclear talks.
 
Earlier in the day, Zarif held also a bilateral meeting with the European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton which was focused on drawing up agenda of the Vienna 6 talks.
The Iranian foreign minister also attended a tripartite meeting with Ashton and the US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns.