VIENNA
The second round of Iran's nuclear talks on Tuesday among technical experts began in Vienna amid tension between EU and Iranian officials.
The talks include representatives from Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, France and the UK plus Germany), headed by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Ministry, Muhammed Javad Zarif. The talks started in Vienna on Tuesday and will continue until March 20.
Iran's uranium enrichment level, cooperation on peaceful nuclear activities, sanctions and the Arak heavy-water nuclear reactor will be on the agenda for discussion.
Iranian news agency, IRNA reported that Zarif cancelled dinner with Ashton, in protest of her meeting the opposition during her Iran visit. They were due to dine together before the negotiations started.
In the first round of talks last November in Geneva, the sides had a partial agreement which raised hopes for reaching a comprehensive deal.
The world powers aim to curb Iran's nuclear activities while Iran wants a release from sanctions which cripple its economy.
The EU suspended some economic sanctions against Iran after a green light from the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) on January 20 in Brussels.
Under the Geneva deal, the P5+1 countries undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities for a six-month period.
The sides aim to reach a permanent agreement before July 2014.
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