Senior Iranian officials on Thursday dismissed speculation about an imminent nuclear deal with the United States, emphasizing that any agreement must fully lift sanctions and allow the country’s nuclear program to continue.

Following five rounds of intensive negotiations, American and Iranian officials are close to signing a nuclear agreement, according to a new report.

Iran might allow the U.N. atomic watchdog to send U.S. inspectors to Iranian sites if Tehran's talks with Washington succeed, Iran's nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said on Wednesday. Tehran and Washington are expected to hold a sixth round of talks to solve a decades-long dispute over Iran's nuclear programme,