Putin says deal on Iran's nuclear program 'very close'

Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during his annual end-of-year news conference in Moscow, December 18, 2014. REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday the six world powers and Iran were "very close" to reaching an agreement on Tehran's nuclear program. He also told his annual end-of-year news conference that economic ties between Moscow and Teheran would benefit if the deal were clinched. (Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, editing by Elizabeth Piper)