Lausanne (Switzerland), April 1 (IANS): Negotiations over Iran's controversial nuclear programme resumed for the seventh day on Wednesday in the Swiss city of Lausanne in a final attempt to reach an agreement, a day after the expiry of an agreed deadline, Efe news agency reported.

After a three-hour break to get some rest, the negotiators of Iran and the P5 1 group of world powers resumed their talks at 5 a.m., while the foreign ministers of the seven countries are expected to continue with their meeting to make a final push to strike a deal.

The P5 1 group -- Britain, France, China, the US, Russia plus Germany -- were intently negotiating, with the coordination of the European Union, to reach an agreement and prevent Iran from acquiring the ability to develop nuclear weapons.

The objective of the negotiations is to end a decade-long dispute over whether Iran's controversial nuclear programme, which the international community fears, and the Iranians deny, has military objectives.