DHAKA: Iran’s chief negotiator in nuclear talks in Vienna warned Saturday that Tehran is ready to walk away if ‘excessive’ Western demands cause a failure, eight days before a deadline for a deal.

Abbas Araqchi said however that he hoped that the attendance from Sunday of foreign ministers including US Secretary of State John Kerry would help overcome ‘deep differences’ that remain.

‘If we see that the excessive demands (of Western powers) persisting and that a deal is impossible, this is not a drama, we will continue with our nuclear programme,’ Araqchi said, reports The Straits Times.

‘The presence of ministers will have a positive influence,’ he told Iran state television from the Austrian capital.

‘There are questions that ministers need to take decisions on.’

BDST: 2207 HRS, JUL 12, 2014