Ministers in final push for Iran nuclear accord

The foreign ministers of Iran and six world powers met in a final push for a preliminary nuclear accord before their deadline today as Tehran showed signs of backing away from previous compromise offers.

For days, Iran, the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China have been seeking to break an impasse in negotiations aimed at stopping Tehran having the capacity to develop a nuclear bomb in exchange for an easing of international sanctions that are crippling its economy.

However, officials at the talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne said attempts to reach a framework accord could yet fall apart.