Mike Pompeo flies to Germany as first stop on Europe trip

Germany's top diplomat spoke after a virtual meeting with other treaty signatories. He said the group was hopeful of a US return to the agreement and will take a "positive" approach.

Iran's foreign minister has asked the European Union to help mediate in its dispute over the nuclear deal with the United States. Both sides have previously insisted that the other must act first in reviving the pact.

Delegations from Washington and Tehran will be present at the talks, although direct contact is not on the table. The US has cautioned against high expectations.

The Russian foreign minister has arrived in Tehran for talks with Iranian leaders on how to salvage the nuclear agreement with world powers. Talks on EU sanctions and the 'cyber operation' at Natanz are also expected.

Blinken is looking to drum up support for President Joe Biden's plan to withdraw all troops. He briefed both Afghan and US officials on the next steps, and warned the Taliban against carrying out any attacks.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said Iran is "seriously undermining" efforts to monitor the country's uranium enrichment program, as hopes of reviving the Iran nuclear deal recede.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the Foreign Affairs Committee that the previous presidency left Joe Biden little choice but to complete the withdrawal. Republicans called it "an unmitigated disaster."

With Tehran feared to be weeks away from a point of no return on nuclear weapons, are we looking down the barrel of an arms race in the Middle East? With little optimism in the air for the current round of talks in Vienna, where might this leave the Biden administration? Does the US have the stomach for a fight? And is a fight really what's unfolding? Traditional lines in the sand seem to be out the window as the same Gulf states that are cementing new ties with Israel are also keeping channels open with Tehran.

US national security advisor Jake Sullivan is in Israel to discuss Iran and other issues. In Jerusalem, Sullivan said Iran may exhaust diplomacy within weeks.

The new deal may be watered down compared to the 2015 original, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said. At the same time, Israel believes lifting sanctions on Iran could increase financing for terrorism.

When it comes to the nuclear talks between Iran and the West, no country watches as closely as Israel. Conflict Zone talks to Israel's former defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, who says the nuclear agreement was a mistake and a missed opportunity.

Despite progress in the negotiations to restore the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the accord's future is at stake after a last-minute Russian demand for an exemption from Western sanctions.