Aust won't link Iran nuclear, refugee deal

Australia won't link the lifting of sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program to a deal to return asylum seekers to the middle eastern country.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says a deal to repatriate Iranians whose refugee claims have failed is close to completion, with Iran sending a delegation of senior officials to continue negotiations she started in Tehran earlier this year.

But she says she hasn't connected this week's international deal to halt Iran's nuclear program with the repatriation talks.