Mohammad Javad Zarif

Tentative agreement on Iran sanctions relief

Diplomats confirmed the new development to the Associated Press on Saturday.

The annex, one of five meant to accompany the agreement, outlines which U.S. and international sanctions will be lifted and how quickly. 

Diplomats said senior officials of the seven-nation talks, which include U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, still had to sign off on the package.

VIDEO: Iran and UK FMs comment on nuclear issue

Mohammad Javad Zarif held private talks with counterparts from Germany and France, before meeting with a group of EU leaders on the sidelines of a meeting of top EU diplomats in Luxembourg.

Zarif predicted intense and difficult days ahead before the deadline to strike a deal with world powers over Tehran's nuclear programme.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, who also met with Zarif, said diplomats are "going to pull all the stops out" to reach an agreement by the deadline.