Sanctions emerge as problem in talks

The issue of United Nations sanctions has become a major snag in the US-Iran nuclear talks, according to negotiators involved.

As Iran and the six major powers push for the outlines of a landmark deal by March 31, it is not just the powers and Iran who do not see eye to eye. There also appear to be divisions on the issue between the United States and France, which has long been wary of too soft a deal with Iran.

According to a European negotiator, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is putting "a lot of pressure" on his team to get "insulting" UN sanctions lifted "on day one" of any deal.