Iran nuclear talks adjourn without reaching final deal

Talks on Iran’s nuclear programme have adjourned without Tehran clinching a final deal with the six world powers.

Discussions are expected to reconvene at the end of December in the Omani capital Muscat.

All parties were hoping to get an agreement by today’s self-imposed deadline.

A European official said the possibility of securing a final agreement seemed “physically impossible”.

The talks are aimed at securing a deal under which sanctions against Iran would be gradually lifted in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.

Iran rejects Western suspicions that it’s looking to develop nuclear weapons, saying it needs atomic power to generate electricity.