(VOVworld) – Iran and the P5+1 on Tuesday resumed nuclear talks in Vienna, Austria, hoping that Ukraine’s crisis would not make the issue more difficult.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton (L) and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Vienna February 20, 2014. (Photo: Reuteurs)

A Western envoy reiterated that Ukraine’s crisis had not previously affected talks between experts of Iran and the P5+1 and neither would this round be harmed. Diplomats believe that the disagreement between Russia and the West over Ukraine would challenge a consensus over the Iran issue. A US high-level official said the P5+1 wanted to continue discussions based on results of the expert round of talks as disagreements have diminished, and get ready to make tough decisions on obstructive issues.
The Iranian Foreign Minister and Head of Iran’s negotiators, Mohammad Javad Zarif, expects a trickier round of talks than the previous meeting in mid-February as both sides try to iron out details such as Iran's Arak heavy water reactor and levels of uranium enrichment.