At a meeting at the Munich Security Conference Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said there is an “opportunity for a deal” with world powers over Iran’s disputed nuclear programme.

The US and its five negotiating partners want to set long-term restrictions on Iran’s enrichment of uranium.

Iran demands the right to a nuclear energy programme while the West fears the production of nuclear weapons.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaking in Tehran said:“We believe that no deal is better than a bad deal. A deal which is against the national interests. A deal that humiliates the great and glorious nation of Iran.”

Iran wants an end to the crippling sanctions as part of any agreement.

In Israel the prospect of an accord between the US and Iran prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to issue his take on events:“We will continue to take action and lead the international effort against Iran arming itself with nuclear weapons. We will do everything and take