Tehran, March 24 (IANS): Iran and the P5 1 group of world powers will resume on Wednesday talks on an agreement for Iran's peaceful nuclear programme, in exchange for lifting the sanctions imposed on the country.

The resumption of negotiations was announced on Tuesday by the Iranian foreign ministry, attributing the statement to nuclear negotiator and Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Efe news agency reported.

The P5 1 group comprises France, Britain, Russia, the US, China, plus Germany.

The first meetings of the new round of nuclear talks are presumably the last to take place before the March 31 deadline set by all parties to reach a framework agreement.

The Iranian delegation is expected to leave early on Wednesday for the Swiss city of Lausanne, where the negotiations between Tehran and the P5 1 will be held.

There will be a meeting on Thursday between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is the chief nuclear negotiator, and US Secretary of State John Kerry.