(VOVworld) – Iran and P5+1 (Russia, the US, China, the UK, France, and Germany) have launched another round of negotiations in Vienna seeking a long-term, comprehensive agreement on Iran’s controversial nuclear program.

EU Foreign Minister Chief Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zavad Zarif in Geneva. Photo: internet

These are the first talks since an historic preliminary agreement was reached last November in Geneva, Switzerland. The new round of negotiations began with a plenary meeting which received positive evaluations from all sides. Michael Mann, spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, cautioned that this is just a first step, while Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi reiterated that Iran is ready to conclude an agreement that will allay the international community’s concerns about its nuclear program.