TEHRAN - Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi underlined that Tehran and Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, France and Britain plus Germany) are trying hard to strike a final deal, but differences are still in place.

"Differences still persist on some issues as we are trying to get our views closer to each other," Araqchi, also Iran's deputy chief negotiator in the talks with the world powers, told reporters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Friday night.

Asked if the two sides are likely to strike a final in Lausanne in the coming days, the Iranian deputy foreign minister responded, "We hope so and we will stay in Lausanne until the last minute and we will try… ."

Araqchi, meantime, said that the foreign ministers of Iran and G5+1 are likely to meet in Lausanne in coming days and there could be a sum up meeting at the UN headquarters in Geneva if such a meeting proves necessary.

Also on Friday night, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined that major differences are still in place in the nuclear debates between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, France and Britain plus Germany), adding that striking a final deal depends on the political will of the other side.

"We are not close to a deal as reaching a comprehensive agreement needs political will and choosing between pressure and agreement," Zarif told reporters in Lausanne.

"We are proceeding, we still have work to do and we are trying hard," he added.

He reiterated that both sides can definitely find solutions, but reaching a solution requires political will from the opposite side.

“The reason why I emphasize the other side’s political will is that the Islamic Republic of Iran has the political will at the highest levels," he added.

Earlier on Friday, Araqchi also said there was still a serious gap between Tehran and the western powers.

"All differences are serious and we are trying to reduce these differences," Araqchi told reporters in Lausanne.

"… we are still hopeful and optimistic, but it is still soon to state if we will be able to obtain a solution on all issues or not," he added.

He noted that both sides are trying to reach a solution on all issues first and then write down the solutions in black and white in the coming months.

Araqchi pointed to the Iran-G5+1 meetings on Friday, and said, "Bilateral and multilateral meetings at the level of experts, deputy FMs, and FMs will be held today and we hope these meetings lead to progress in the negotiations."

He noted that the Iranian negotiators will stay in Lausanne as long as needed.

Iran and G5+1 started their new round of talks in Lausanne on Thursday.

The last round of talks between the Iranian and US nuclear negotiators ended in Lausanne last Friday afternoon in the presence of Zarif, US Secretary of State John Kerry, their deputies, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi, US Secretary of Energy Moniz, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and her deputy Helga Schmidt. The Iranian negotiators returned to Tehran on Saturday to participate in ceremonies celebrating the Iranian new year (which started on March 21).

Zarif said last Saturday that Tehran and the 5+1 group of powers had found technical and political solutions to their differences.

"Proper technical and political solutions have been found for the issues which couldn't be solved in the past," Zarif wrote on his facebook page.

"We were ready for negotiations, but the other sides needed more time for coordination," he added.

"We have decided to return to Geneva on Wednesday to continue the talks, and God willingly, finalize the details of the solutions," Zarif said.

After the last round of talks with powers last Friday, Araqchi said that the US and European countries needed more consultations and arrangements with their governments to continue talks with Iran.

Talks between Iran and G5+1 were very serious and extensive, he said, adding that nuclear teams at this juncture are in need of more negotiations and coordination.

Owing to the same reason, foreign ministers of the European states and the US met in Berlin on Saturday to get ready for the new round of the negotiations today.

Iran and the G5+1 are negotiating to narrow their differences over Tehran's nuclear energy program ahead of a July 1 deadline.

Zarif had also underlined last week that the ball was in Washington's court to make a choice between a final deal or ineffective pressures against Tehran.

"Iranians have already made their choice: Engage with dignity," Zarif wrote in his tweeter page.

"It's high time that the US and its allies were to chose between pressure and agreement," he added. (FNA)