China opposes extending Iran nuclear deadline: minister

China is against another extension of the deadline for Iran to reach a deal with world powers in talks on its nuclear programme, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Tehran today.

"They have been extended twice, we hope that they will not be for a third time," Wang said at a joint news conference with Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Wang said the talks between Iran and the P5+1 powers (the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) were a "historic opportunity" to resolve the longstanding dispute over Tehran's nuclear efforts. "The negotiations have seen positive progress," he said, but "they have become more difficult and complicated" as they near conclusion. Two deadlines for a permanent agreement on Iran's nuclear programme have been missed since an interim deal was reached in November 2013.