A July 20 deadline for Iran and world powers to strike a nuclear deal looks increasingly likely to be extended given the seemingly huge gap that remains between the two sides, experts say.

Though the aim is still to reach agreement by the stated deadline, officials familiar with the talks admit a delay is looking more and more possible.

Iran offered neighboring Iraq support against "terrorism" Wednesday, as Baghdad battled a jihadist offensive that has seized the country's second city and is moving towards the capital.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that "while condemning the murder of Iraqi citizens... Iran offers its support to the government and people of Iraq against terrorism."

Direct meetings this week between Iran and world powers, including the U.S., aim to deliver what diplomats are calling a "trust mechanism" meant to ensure both sides honor a nuclear deal.

The announcement of separate talks with the United States, Russia, France and Germany -- all members of the P5+1 that is negotiating with Iran -- underscores that serious differences remain.

Syrian President Bashar Assad has described Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun as an “honest man,” saying he would welcome his election as a president.

In an interview with al-Akhbar daily published on Wednesday, Assad said: “Aoun is an honorable and honest man who fought with dignity and reconciled with dignity.”

Direct talks between France and Iran on the Islamic republic's controversial nuclear drive will be held this week, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Monday.

"Bilateral discussions between France and Iran will take place on Wednesday," Fabius said at a news conference in Algiers after Iranian and U.S. delegations began two days of direct negotiations in Geneva.

At least 24 Shiite pilgrims -- including 10 women -- were killed in a gun and suicide attack on the restive Pakistan-Iran border, officials said Monday, the latest assault on the beleaguered minority sect

The attack late Sunday night came when a bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims returning from a visit to holy Muslim sites in Iran stopped at a restaurant in the Pakistani town of Taftan in troubled Baluchistan province.

Iran and Turkey on Monday pledged to work together to stop extremism and bloodshed in the Middle East despite their deep differences over Syria's civil war.

"Iran and Turkey, the two important countries in the region, are determined to fight against extremism and terrorism," Iran's President Hassan Rouhani told a news conference in Ankara.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat has stressed that he will not pull out MP Henri Helou of the presidential race even if an agreement was reached between al-Mustaqbal movement leader MP Saad Hariri and Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun.

“I'm not one of those who wait for external factors. I won't pull out Henri Helou even if Hariri reaches an agreement with Aoun,” Jumblat said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Iran's chief negotiator said Sunday that direct talks agreed between Tehran and Washington are essential, as discussions on his country's disputed nuclear program are entering a "serious phase".

The two countries will hold their first full-scale bilateral talks in decades on Monday and Tuesday, an unprecedented move toward securing a comprehensive nuclear deal between Iran and the West.

Iran will next week hold official direct talks with the United States for the first time in decades, in an unprecedented step toward ending its nuclear standoff with the West.

The discussions will take place in Geneva on Monday and Tuesday, Iran's foreign ministry and the U.S. State Department said in surprise announcements that come after serious concern that progress on a deal has been stalling.