In a first meeting, the United States and Iran show signs of pragmatism and limited aims, which would make success more likely. But hard-liners on both sides — and Israel — are bound to balk.

Delegations from Iran and the United States will meet again next week after wrapping up “constructive” nuclear talks that included the first direct contact between a Trump administration and an Iranian official,

Iran says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only. It insists it is not trying to develop nuclear weapons, but many countries - as well as the global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - are not convinced.