DHAKA: Talks on Iran’s nuclear programme are entering a crucial weekend in Vienna but there is no sign of a breakthrough as Monday’s deadline looms.

The US admitted that ‘serious gaps do remain’, reports the BBC.

But Secretary of State John Kerry did cancel plans to leave Austria, and held further talks with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif late on Friday.

Six world powers want Iran to curb its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of UN sanctions.

The US, the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China want Iran to demonstrate it is not seeking to build nuclear weapons, in the face of protestations by Tehran that its programme is purely energy-related.

‘We are running against the clock,’ White House spokesman Eric Schultz was quoted as saying in Washington by the media.

BDST: 1255 HRS, NOV 22, 2014