Your trusted source

Talks on Iran's nuclear programme will continue until at least Thursday morning, two days after the original deadline, the US says, the BBC reported.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has extended his stay to continue negotiations, officials say.

However, a number of foreign ministers have left the talks and China warned compromise was essential, otherwise "all previous efforts will be wasted."

A deal would curb the nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief.

Negotiations between the so-called P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - and Iran continued on Wednesday at Lausanne's Beau-Rivage Palace hotel after overrunning the self-imposed deadline of 31 March to reach a deal.

On Wednesday evening, a US state department spokeswoman said: "We continue to make progress, but have not reached a political understanding. Therefore, Secretary Kerry will remain in Lausanne until at least Thursday morning to continue the negotiations."

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius is also returning to Lausanne. He had previously said he would return to the talks as soon as it was "useful."

The P5+1 deal seeks to ensure Iran could not assemble a nuclear weapon in less than a year. The Iranians insist that they have no such ambition.