We have never been this close to reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, German Press Agency quoted German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier as saying on Monday after his talks with Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif

We have never been this close to reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, German Press Agency quoted German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier as saying on Monday after his talks with Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Luxembourg.

An agreement is possible and we have never been so close but we have not reached it yet, Steinmeier said.

He stressed that the Lausanne framework agreement was the benchmark for the ongoing nuclear talks.

Steinmeier said the final round of nuclear talks is likely to take place next week, but did not provide a specific date or venue for the negotiations.

The German government reiterated earlier in the day that the June 30 deadline remained its target date for hammering out a comprehensive final nuclear agreement by Iran and six world powers (the US, Russia, China, France, Britain plus Germany).