“The negotiations between Iran and Group 5+1 are going ahead in a tough path filled with ups and downs and there is no good prospect for the conclusion of the talks by the deadline,” said Seyed Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister in reaction to the latest comments made by the US undersecretary of state for political affairs, Wendy Sherman.

“Undoubtedly, attempting to launch negotiations through media outlets rather than (sitting behind) negotiation table and declare political demands, once accompanied by illogical excessive demands, will not only help the progress of the talks, but also will make (continuing) the present tough path more difficult or impossible,” the Iranian diplomat warned.

Earlier this week, Wendy Sherman had said there has been impressive progress on several issues in the nuclear talks between world powers and Iran.

The chief US nuclear negotiator further referred to the November 24 deadline for clinching a deal, and described it as “the time to finish the job”.

Araqchi, however, reiterated that the Islamic Republic will continue the negotiations with good will until reaching the final result.

“We also believe that the existing opportunity is a great chance which may not be available for neither side again. We are certain that if the other side adheres to its declared objective in the negotiations, that is making sure that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful, realizing this goal is not that difficult,” said the Iranian official.

Iran and the G5+1 (alternatively known as the P5+1 or E3+3) are in talks to hammer out a final deal to end a decade of impasse over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear energy program.

On November 24, 2013, Iran and the G5+1  (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) signed an interim nuclear deal in the Swiss city of Geneva.

Based on the interim deal, the world powers agreed to suspend some non-essential sanctions and impose no new nuclear-related bans in return for Tehran’s decision to freeze parts of its nuclear activities.

In July, Tehran and the six countries agreed to extend negotiations until November 24 in the hope of clinching a final deal.

Sources close to the Iranian negotiating team say the main stumbling block in the way of resolving the Western dispute over Iran’s nuclear energy program remains to be the removal of all the sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic.

Tehran wants the sanctions entirely lifted while Washington, under pressure from the pro-Israeli lobby, insists that at least the UN-imposed sanctions should remain in place.