US, Iran in indirect talks as nuclear deal powers meet in Vienna

dpa Vienna Top diplomats were meeting in Vienna on Tuesday to try to save the nuclear deal with Iran. But this time, in what could mark an important mile...

dpa Vienna Top diplomats were meeting in Vienna on Tuesday to try to save the nuclear deal with Iran.But this time, in what could mark an important milestone in the effort to restore the 2015 accord, US negotiators were to be present and holding indirect talks with the Iranians.Working groups would be formed among the participants, with European negotiators shuttling between the US and Iranian sides, the State Department in Washington said.According to Russia, two expert working groups were set up which are to focus on sanctions and nuclear issues and were to start working immediately.“These are early days,” spokesperson Ned Price said on Monday. “We don’t anticipate an early or immediate breakthrough, as these discussions we fully expect will be difficult.” “But we do believe that these discussions with our partners and, in turn, our partners with Iran is a healthy step forward,” he said.Iranian government spokesperson Ali Rabiei said on Tuesday that Tehran was “neither optimistic nor pessimistic about the outcome of the negotiations in the coming weeks.”