US, Iran ready for direct nuke talks

Iran for the first time said it was open to direct nuclear negotiations with the United States, which declared itself ready to hold talks "urgently" -- in a possible turning point in efforts to salvage the 2015 nuclear accord. Tehran has been engaged since last year in talks with the five other world powers still part of the agreement, which offered sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. US is taking part in the talks indirectly as it unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018. On Monday Iran's foreign minister said his country would consider to engage directly with US if it proved the key to a "good agreement" to salvage the floundering deal. A US State Department spokesperson reiterated after the Iranian comments that the United States is "prepared to meet directly."