Geneva, March 20 (IANS): Diplomats from the US and Iran continued the new round of nuclear talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne to bridge gaps on Tehran's nuclear issue, as the deadline to reach an agreement by the end of March is approaching.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry held their sixth and seventh meetings on Thursday, Iran state news agency IRNA reported on Friday.

Zarif on Thursday told reporters that he would stay in Lausanne as long as it is required to negotiate over a deal on Iran's peaceful nuclear programme, adding that the negotiations are in the final stage that requires more intensive talks.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, head of Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi and US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz also held separate negotiations.

Officials from Iran and the P5 1 group -- the US, China, Russia, France, Britain, plus Germany -- on Wednesday kicked off a new round of talks in Lausanne. The talks came after top US and Iran diplomats held intensive meetings since Sunday.

The P5 1 countries and Iran were expected to sit for talks on Friday in a bid to reach a framework agreement ahead of the March 31 deadline.