Iran nuclear talks: Ministers to issue 'general statement'
Representatives are reportedly preparing to issue a general statement focusing on points of agreement, which would be enough to allow for a new phase of talks on a comprehensive deal.
But there is no sign that the most contentious issues have been resolved.
The world powers want to restrict Iran's nuclear programme in return for relief from crippling sanctions.
The so-called P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - are seeking to ensure Iran could not assemble a nuclear weapon in less than a year.
The Iranians insist that they have no such ambition.
'Good' chance
Foreign ministers met several times at Lausanne's Beau-Rivage Palace hotel on Tuesday morning in a high-level push to meet the self-imposed deadline to agree a political framework agreement by the end of the day.
Russia's top diplomat, Sergei Lavrov, announced that prospects were "very good and promising", and said he was returning to the talks after leaving for another engagement on Monday.
On Tuesday afternoon, a senior US official said the meetings might go beyond the deadline "if we are continuing to make progress, including into tomorrow, if it's useful to do so".
The BBC's Barbara Plett Usher, who is at the talks, says there is no sign that the most intractable problems have been resolved.
Officials told the Associated Press that there were plans to issue a "framework understanding", accompanied by documents outlining more technical details.
This would be enough for all parties to continue negotiations in a new phase aimed at achieving a comprehensive accord by 30 June, our correspondent says.
BBC
