High drama as stage set for US-Iran nuclear talks
John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart sit down to try to resolve stand-off, but progress is expected to be slow, difficult and fragile
The United States and Iran have set the stage for what could become their most serious contacts in a generation, but direct talks on the Iranian nuclear programme are likely to be slow, difficult and fragile.
Years of sporadic negotiations between Tehran and world powers have failed to yield a deal for curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in return for relief from stiff international sanctions.
The talks are due to resume today, attended by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif against a backdrop of rare conciliatory gestures between the US and Iran.
President Barack Obama, in his speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, made several gestures to Washington's long-time adversary, including accepting Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Still, he acknowledged, "the roadblocks may prove to be too great" to secure a diplomatic deal.