The continuing talks in Geneva between the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) and Iran are covered widely this morning. The Financial Times summarises the prevailing mood, reporting that considerable differences continue to stand in the way of an interim deal. The Times says that France and Iran hold particularly divergent views while the Telegraph emphasises disagreement between the United States and Iran over the extent to which sanctions could be loosened in the event of an agreement. The Guardian says the main sticking point is Iran’s continued insistence that its ‘right’ to enrich uranium be recognised within the parameters of a deal.

The Times reports that a senior Iranian cleric who claims to have been the ‘godfather’ of suicide attacks during the 1980s, was injured in the deadly suicide bomb attack on the Iranian Embassy in Beirut earlier this week.

The Guardian online reports that US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday accused the Muslim Brotherhood of having “stolen” the 2011 revolution in Egypt which unseated Hosni Mubarak from power. The article suggests Kerry’s comment was a nod towards the country’s military rulers, with US-Egypt relations having recently cooled. The Telegraph online says Egypt’s proposed new constitution will see the military retain key political and judicial powers, rather than facilitate greater civilian empowerment.

The Guardian includes a feature on the recent spate of gang-related murders and violence in Israel, particularly in the southern Israeli town of Ashkelon. The article highlights calls in Israel to impose anti-terror tactics against the gangsters to combat the violence. Meanwhile, the Telegraph online covers a story from yesterday’s Haaretz which suggested that Economy Minister Naftali Bennett may have breached regulations during an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, by producing an ancient coin to demonstrate the longevity of Jewish presence in Israel. Apparently, the removal of such artefacts from Israel must be approved in advance by the Israel Antiquities Authority.

The Telegraph claims that as many as 20 Britons may have been killed fighting in Syria’s civil war against President Assad’s forces, while the Evening Standard publishes a similar item suggesting that a “new terror generation” of British jihadists is being developed in Syria.

In the Israeli media, the apparent stalemate at talks in Geneva between the P5+1 powers and Iran is widely covered. The lead headline in Maariv states “Iranian checkmate in Geneva,” while Haaretz puts the “freeze in talks” down to Iran’s insistence that its enrichment ‘rights’ be recognised. However, Yediot Ahronot claims that an interim deal will be agreed in the end and Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz suggests the protracted talks are simply down to convenience, with both sides eager to “show that the other side found it difficult to accept what was proposed.”

Maariv says that Prime Minister Netanyahu was pleased at the outcome of his meeting this week with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Russia. Although they did not agree on the proposed deal with Iran, missile sales to Syria were discussed and it was suggested that the two countries could cooperate over natural gas.

Haaretz, Israel Hayom and Sof Hashavua give prominence to yesterday’s Labour Party leadership contest. Although the votes were still being counted early this morning, Shelly Yachimovich conceded defeat to Isaac Herzog, who is head of the party’s Knesset faction and a former minister. Israel Radio news reports that with 70 per cent of votes counted, Herzog has garnered 58 per cent versus Yachimovich’s 42 per cent of the vote.