Defense minister refuses to comment on specific case; remarks come after US official attributes mine attack on alleged Revolutionary Guard ship directly to Israeli naval commandos

Jerusalem said to tell US it hit vessel in response to attacks on Israeli ships; official US report calls Saviz covert IRGC base; strike comes amid indirect US-Iran nuke deal talks

Washington and Tehran open indirect discussions on 2015 accord; both sides, and European mediators, issue cautious praise of initial efforts; Iran still insists on sanctions relief

Parties to 2015 accord limiting Tehran's nuclear program launch latest negotiations, with the Biden administration to join indirectly for the first time

Washington will indirectly communicate with Tehran in negotiations in Vienna; neither side appears willing to take first step to begin process back to deal

Washington reiterates it will only grant concessions if Iran returns to compliance with deal; signatories to start talks in Vienna on Tuesday

Hardliners and other fans of 'Gando,' which valorizes Revolutionary Guards and criticizes diplomats, accuse the government of pulling the 2nd season off the air prematurely

French foreign minister speaks to Iranian countepart, calls on Tehran to 'be constructive,' abstain from further violations of nuclear deal, ahead of indirect negotiations with US

Foreign Ministry appears to rule out mutual trust-building measures, reiterates all US sanctions must be removed before it takes any steps toward compliance with deal

Washington says it is open to direct negotiations, but scenario unlikely; Tehran continues to insist US must remove sanctions before it stops breaching the accord