Iran and six world major countries involved in Iranian nuclear talks still has "real gaps on the key issues" as the July 20 deadline approaches, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said here on Tuesday
Kerry made the comments after lengthy negotiations with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Meanwhile, Kerry said the nuclear talks have made some progress on some of the key issues, but he declined to talk the details.
"It is clear we have more work to do," Kerry told reporters, saying that he is returning to Washington on Tuesday to consult with President Barack Obama and Congress about the state of negotiations.
The United States and five other world countries, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China, have been seeking a deal to settle the decade-old disputes over Iran's nuclear program.
A six-month interim deal, which took effect on Jan. 20 and would expire five days later, was designed to buy time for negotiations on a final agreement.
Under the interim deal, Iran agreed to suspend some sensitive nuclear activities in exchange of limited sanction relief.
Kerry said "the July 20 deadline is still on the table", but he will also discuss the possibility to extend the talks beyond the July 20 deadline so negotiations can continue.