US joins talks in Vienna aimed at reviving Iran nuclear deal

United States has joined talks in Vienna aimed at reviving the Iran nuclear deal. Diplomats from France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China acting as intermediaries began shuttling between Iranian and US officials in Vienna, seeking to bring both countries back into full compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal that Washington abandoned three years ago.Russia's delegate Mikhail Ulyanov, said brief preparatory talks held were successful, with two expert-level groups on sanctions-lifting and nuclear issues given the task of identifying concrete measures to move forward.
US Department spokesman Ned Price described indirect talks with Iran in Vienna as a constructive, and potentially useful, step toward both sides resuming compliance with the nuclear deal. Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said it found the "position realistic and promising". Rabiei reiterated that Iran was "ready to mutually return to all its obligations in the shortest possible time after verifying the fulfilment of the obligations by the other parties". This is the first round of talks since US President Joe Biden took office with a US delegation taking part indirectly.Former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and imposed sanctions on Iran. President Biden has said he wants to return to the landmark accord.