Talks to revive the Iran nuclear deal resumed today, however, the meeting ended in just one hour.&nbsp;The diplomats met but they hardly discussed anything as Iran played hardball.

President Raisi's&nbsp;regime has been demanding major concessions to return to the deal. Reports claim Iran is inching closer&nbsp;towards enriching weapons-grade uranium.

The nuclear issue has gone through several twists and turns since the 1950s. In 1953, former US President Dwight Eisenhower had started the "atoms for peace" initiative. The idea was to supply friendly countries with civilian nuclear technology in the hope that they do not pursue nuclear weapons.

Watch | Gravitas:&nbsp;Can Iran really make a nuclear bomb?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-can-iran-really-make-a-nuclear-bomb-435619/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Iran was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the nuclear programme as the US first gave Iran a nuclear reactor for research, then&nbsp;the Americans built another reactor at Tehran University.

The American government also shared weapons-grade uranium with Tehran. The initiative helped to jump-start Iran's nuclear programme which the Biden administration is now trying to halt decades later.&nbsp;

The same reactors have now become America's biggest nightmare. Until 2015, the first American reactor was still operational in Tehran. Iran has built bigger facilities in at least five other locations - Arak, Isfahan, Fordow, Natanz and Bushehr.

The main nuclear facility is in Natanz. It has three underground facilities designed to protect equipment from enemy attacks.

Natanz is the primary uranium enrichment facility of Iran. Uranium is the fuel used to make nuclear bombs.

In the early 2000s, American intelligence believed that Iran was aggressively pursuing nuclear bombs. Tehran had a crash programme to build five nuclear bombs. The nuclear deal of 2015 had put a stop to those efforts, however, after the United States walked out of the deal under the former Trump administration, Iran resumed its nuclear programme.

Tehran is believed to be inching&nbsp;towards enriching weapons-grade uranium although&nbsp;there are serious doubts over its capabilities at the moment. The US believes Iran hasn't mastered the technologies used to make nuclear weapons.

It also remains unclear if Iran does have a viable design for a nuclear weapon. Tehran is also weak when it comes to protecting its nuclear facilities. It has proved&nbsp;to be an easy target for Israel.

In April, the Natanz facility had suffered a cyberattack. The plant was sabotaged just when Iran decided to speed up the production of enriched uranium.

However, despite the setbacks, Iran's nuclear programme continues. The country's centrifuges are still churning with Russian help. Moscow has been extending assistance to Iran's nuclear programme and as long as Iran continues to receive Russian help the threat of Iranian nukes remains alive.

Talks to revive the Iran nuclear deal resumed today, however, the meeting ended in just one hour. The diplomats met but they hardly discussed anything as Iran played hardball.

Talks to revive the Iran nuclear deal resumed today, however, the meeting ended in just one hour. The diplomats met but they hardly discussed anything as Iran played hardball. President Raisi's regime has been demanding major concessions to return to the deal. Reports claim Iran is inching closer towards enriching weapons-grade uranium. The nuclear issue has gone through several twists and turns since the 1950s. In 1953, former US President Dwight Eisenhower had started the "atoms for peace" initiative. The idea was to supply friendly countries with civilian nuclear technology in the hope that they do not pursue nuclear weapons. Watch | Gravitas: Can Iran really make a nuclear bomb? Iran was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the nuclear programme as the US first gave Iran a nuclear reactor for research, then the Americans built another reactor at Tehran University. The American government also shared weapons-grade uranium with Tehran. The initiative helped to jump-start Iran's nuclear programme which the Biden administration is now trying to halt decades later. The same reactors have now become America's biggest nightmare. Until 2015, the first American reactor was still operational in Tehran. Iran has built bigger facilities in at least five other locations - Arak, Isfahan, Fordow, Natanz and Bushehr. The main nuclear facility is in Natanz. It has three underground facilities designed to protect equipment from enemy attacks. Natanz is the primary uranium enrichment facility of Iran. Uranium is the fuel used to make nuclear bombs. In the early 2000s, American intelligence believed that Iran was aggressively pursuing nuclear bombs. Tehran had a crash programme to build five nuclear bombs. The nuclear deal of 2015 had put a stop to those efforts, however, after the United States walked out of the deal under the former Trump administration, Iran resumed its nuclear programme. Tehran is believed to be inching towards enriching weapons-grade uranium although there are serious doubts over its capabilities at the moment. The US believes Iran hasn't mastered the technologies used to make nuclear weapons. It also remains unclear if Iran does have a viable design for a nuclear weapon. Tehran is also weak when it comes to protecting its nuclear facilities. It has proved to be an easy target for Israel. In April, the Natanz facility had suffered a cyberattack. The plant was sabotaged just when Iran decided to speed up the production of enriched uranium. However, despite the setbacks, Iran's nuclear programme continues. The country's centrifuges are still churning with Russian help. Moscow has been extending assistance to Iran's nuclear programme and as long as Iran continues to receive Russian help the threat of Iranian nukes remains alive.

How Iran developed its nuclear programme with American help

As Russia said the US should be more "active" to revive the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-calls-on-us-to-be-more-active-to-revive-iran-nuclear-deal-416020"> nuclear talks</a> with Iran, foreign minister &nbsp;Hossein Amirabdollahian added that talks would resume soon without setting a specific date.

Amirabdollahian added that Iran is looking into the Vienna negotiations while asserting that negotiations with four plus one&nbsp;countries are set to begin.

Although EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell expressed his optimism to revive the stalled nuclear talks, Amirabdollahian took a dig at the&nbsp;United States stating that President Biden should end sanctions imposed by the previous Trump administration.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-president-ebrahim-raisi-slams-us-presses-sanctions-to-be-lifted-414875">Also Read:&nbsp;Iran President Ebrahim Raisi slams US, presses sanctions to be lifted</a>

Amirabdollahian said Biden displayed "paradoxical behaviour" while keeping negotiations open and&nbsp;"simultaneously levying new sanctions".

Iran's foreign minister also brought up Soleimani's killing by the United States carried out at the behest of former President Trump.

Meanwhile, Russia said it hoped talks in Vienna will begin soon between Germany, UK, France, China, Russia and Iran which seeks to put the United States back in the 2015 nuclear deal after former President Trump had walked out of the deal.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-reaches-deal-with-iaea-allows-upgradation-of-surveillance-cameras-at-nuclear-sites-412572">Also Read:&nbsp;&nbsp;Iran allows upgradation of surveillance cameras at nuclear sites</a>

Russia pressed for sanctions to be lifted and the restoration of the nuclear deal even as the talks have been under suspension since June after President Ebrahim Raisi won the elections in Iran.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said earlier in the week that "mutual compliance" was "not indefinite".&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/before-talks-irans-supreme-leader-says-predatory-wolf-biden-no-different-from-trump-409148">Also Read:&nbsp;Iran's supreme leader says 'predatory wolf' Biden no different from Trump &nbsp;</a>

Iran has insisted the US should lift sanctions against the country imposed by ex-President Trump, however, the Biden administration has says&nbsp;Iran should curb its nuclear programme which it had revived for the sanctions to be lifted.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies) 
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As Russia said the US should be more "active" to revive the nuclear talks with Iran, foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian added that talks would resume soon without setting a specific date.

As Russia said the US should be more "active" to revive the nuclear talks with Iran, foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian added that talks would resume soon without setting a specific date. Amirabdollahian added that Iran is looking into the Vienna negotiations while asserting that negotiations with four plus one countries are set to begin. Although EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell expressed his optimism to revive the stalled nuclear talks, Amirabdollahian took a dig at the United States stating that President Biden should end sanctions imposed by the previous Trump administration. Also Read: Iran President Ebrahim Raisi slams US, presses sanctions to be lifted Amirabdollahian said Biden displayed "paradoxical behaviour" while keeping negotiations open and "simultaneously levying new sanctions". Iran's foreign minister also brought up Soleimani's killing by the United States carried out at the behest of former President Trump. Meanwhile, Russia said it hoped talks in Vienna will begin soon between Germany, UK, France, China, Russia and Iran which seeks to put the United States back in the 2015 nuclear deal after former President Trump had walked out of the deal. Also Read: Iran allows upgradation of surveillance cameras at nuclear sites Russia pressed for sanctions to be lifted and the restoration of the nuclear deal even as the talks have been under suspension since June after President Ebrahim Raisi won the elections in Iran. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said earlier in the week that "mutual compliance" was "not indefinite". Also Read: Iran's supreme leader says 'predatory wolf' Biden no different from Trump Iran has insisted the US should lift sanctions against the country imposed by ex-President Trump, however, the Biden administration has says Iran should curb its nuclear programme which it had revived for the sanctions to be lifted. (With inputs from Agencies)

Iran says nuclear talks to resume soon amid sanctions row

Amid negotiations with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wont-allow-negotiations-for-the-sake-of-it-says-president-elect-raisi-on-iran-nuclear-talks-392965">Iran</a> on the nuclear deal in Vienna, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said there was a good chance the 2015 deal can be revived.

Iran's state-run television channel quoted the presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi as saying that the US has agreed to "remove all insurance, oil and shipping sanctions imposed by the former president Donald Trump."

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-powers-must-wake-up-on-iran-nuke-deal-israel-392834/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"About 1,040 Trump-era sanctions will be lifted under the agreement. It was also agreed to lift some sanctions on individuals and members of the supreme leader's inner circle," Vaezi told the state-run channel.

However, US officials said there were still details to be hammered out even as Joe Biden's administration seeks to restore the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/talks-to-revive-iran-nuclear-agreement-closer-to-a-deal-eu-official-392810">nuclear deal</a>.

Heiko Maas said negotiations are going forward in a "step by step" direction in every round of negotiation. The German foreign minister said there was a "good chance to conclude them in the foreseeable future".

The US government under ex-president Trump had pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal citing violations as it imposed harsh sanctions on Iran.&nbsp;

However, Israel's new government under Prime Minister&nbsp;Naftali Bennett has vowed it would object to the revival of the deal between world powers and Iran.

Israel's foreign minister Yair Lapid had said that the country "will do whatever it takes to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb".

Meanwhile, Iran's state television said the country had allegedly foiled a sabotage attack on a building belonging to the country's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-detects-technical-fault-in-bushehr-nuclear-power-plant-392978">atomic energy agency</a> even as the government warned the United States that seizure of 33 websites run by Iran-linked media was "not constructive" for ongoing nuclear talks.

The US Justice Department had earlier declared that the 33 Iranian government-controlled media websites violated sanctions which included three websites belonging to Iraqi group Kataeb Hezbollah.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Amid negotiations with Iran on the nuclear deal in Vienna, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said there was a good chance the 2015 deal can be revived. Iran's state-run television channel quoted the presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi as saying that the US has agreed to "remove all insurance, oil and shipping sanctions imposed by the former president Donald Trump.

Amid negotiations with Iran on the nuclear deal in Vienna, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said there was a good chance the 2015 deal can be revived. Iran's state-run television channel quoted the presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi as saying that the US has agreed to "remove all insurance, oil and shipping sanctions imposed by the former president Donald Trump." Watch: "About 1,040 Trump-era sanctions will be lifted under the agreement. It was also agreed to lift some sanctions on individuals and members of the supreme leader's inner circle," Vaezi told the state-run channel. However, US officials said there were still details to be hammered out even as Joe Biden's administration seeks to restore the nuclear deal. Heiko Maas said negotiations are going forward in a "step by step" direction in every round of negotiation. The German foreign minister said there was a "good chance to conclude them in the foreseeable future". The US government under ex-president Trump had pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal citing violations as it imposed harsh sanctions on Iran. However, Israel's new government under Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has vowed it would object to the revival of the deal between world powers and Iran. Israel's foreign minister Yair Lapid had said that the country "will do whatever it takes to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb". Meanwhile, Iran's state television said the country had allegedly foiled a sabotage attack on a building belonging to the country's atomic energy agency even as the government warned the United States that seizure of 33 websites run by Iran-linked media was "not constructive" for ongoing nuclear talks. The US Justice Department had earlier declared that the 33 Iranian government-controlled media websites violated sanctions which included three websites belonging to Iraqi group Kataeb Hezbollah. (With inputs from Agencies)

'About 1,040 Trump-era sanctions will be lifted': Iran, Germany eye nuclear deal revival