"I am confident that our group while working with the Iranians over the next 12 hours or so will clear some more of the text and then we will regroup tomorrow to see if we can get over the last [hurdles]," Hammond told reporters.
The group of six world powers, including Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Germany, is making progress in nuclear talks with Iran after two deadlines expired, but it is extremely slow, Hammond said.
"Yes I do, we are making progress, it's painfully slow as you have observed over the last week," Hammond said when asked whether he believed the deal could be reached.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, whose heated exchange with his US counterpart John Kerry was widely reported late Thursday, said he intended to stay in Vienna over the weekend.
A source in the Iranian delegation told Sputnik a standoff on the lifting of a UN arms embargo keeps the deal, the text of which is reportedly ready to be inked, from being reached.
Another issue threatening the P5+1 group’s final deal with Iran is the extended 60-day US Congressional review period after the parties missed the July 10 deadline.
