'Up to Iran' to show its nuclear programme is peaceful: Kerry

Kerry was in Paris to shore up European support for proposed deal with Iran ahead of a March 31 deadline

US Secretary of State John Kerry said it was "up to Iran" to prove that its nuclear programme is peaceful, following talks with his French counterpart in Paris.

"It is frankly up to Iran that wants this programme, that asserts that it has a peaceful programme... To show the world that it is exactly what they say," said Kerry.

He was speaking alongside his French counterpart Laurent Fabius, who said there were still differences to overcome with Iran in their high-stakes talks over the country's nuclear programme.

"There is progress in certain areas but there are also divergences that must be remedied, so there is still work to do," Fabius said.

"We need a solid agreement, not only for us, but also for the whole region, for the security of the region, including for the Iranians," he added.

Kerry had flown into Paris just a couple of hours earlier in a bid to shore up European support for the proposed deal with Iran ahead of a March 31 deadline.