Iran nuclear deal

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has tried to reassure a wary Israel and its Gulf Arab allies ahead of a possible renewal of global powers’ international nuclear deal with Iran

The face-to-face diplomacy came at a tense time in the nations’ relationship as talks about a deal to rein in Iran’s nuclear capabilities drag on in Vienna.

Iran’s nuclear advancements throughout 2021 have shrunk its “breakout time,” or the time it would take to be able to build a nuclear bomb.

After the latest round of talks in Vienna produced progress, the negotiations have reached a critical stage, the official told reporters.

European diplomats are expressing frustration with Iran’s stance in talks aimed at salvaging Tehran’s tattered 2015 nuclear deal, saying they are wasting “precious time” dealing with new Iranian demands and that “time is running out.”

The meeting comes amid rising tensions in the region between Iran and its adversaries, as Tehran ramps up its nuclear development.

Iran has walked back all concessions it made in previous negotiations on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal but is insisting on pocketing compromises from other governments while issuing fresh demands, a senior U.S. official told reporters on Saturday.

Indirect talks between Iran and the U.S. kicked off on Monday, as the two countries look to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

Tehran has said there is no way to return to the 2015 deal without the lifting of all U.S. sanctions.

Negotiators in Vienna have resumed talks over reviving Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, with the United States taking part at arm’s length as in previous rounds since the Trump administration pulled out of the accord three years ago

Can the landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers be restored?

President Joe Biden says international negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program will resume

The announcement came amid tensions between Iran and the West as Tehran ramps up nuclear activity in breach of the 2015 deal’s parameters.

The odds are stacked against an Iran nuclear deal being reached this year — even if negotiations restart, according to political risk consultancy Eurasia Group.

Tensions are high in the region and Iran’s recently-elected government has not held back in expressing its animosity toward the West.

President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett have postponed their White House meeting as Biden focused his attention on dealing with the aftermath of deadly explosions near the Kabul airport that targeted U.S. troops and Afghans seeking to flee their country after the Taliban takeover

Raisi’s swearing in follows drone strikes on a tanker in the Gulf that have been blamed on Iran, and a threat of attack from Israel.

Negotiators made “quite substantial” progress in talks over the Iran nuclear deal before discussions came to a halt.

The airstrikes are the second round ordered by President Joe Biden against Iranian-backed militias since he began his term in office.

Iranian authorities foiled a “sabotage attack” against one of its civilian nuclear facilities, local news site Nournews reported, offering no further details.