From the beginning, there has been disagreement between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Susan Rice, President Obama's national security adviser, over the sensitive issue of the removal of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran, said a well-placed Western source.

The source who was in Vienna where nuclear between Iran and P5+1 talks are underway added that Rice seems to have been able to talk the president into adopting a tougher stance on the lifting of sanctions.

In a video conference with the US negotiating team Wednesday, President Obama asked his secretary of state to opt for a stricter stance on the lifting of sanctions.

By IFP