US offers to join Iran talks in deal with Russia, China
The United States, in a major policy shift, offered Wednesday to join talks on Iran's nuclear program in an apparent deal to win Russian and Chinese backing for UN sanctions against Tehran if needed.

As world powers geared to meet Thursday in Vienna to mull the standoff with Iran, Washington said it was ready to enter the European-led negotiations if Tehran suspended uranium enrichment activities.

Washington's willingness to have its most substantive contacts with Iran since they broke diplomatic ties 26 years ago came amid efforts to hammer out an international approach to Iran's suspected nuclear arms ambitions.

A senior US official, who asked not to be named, linked the move to what he called an agreement by Russia and China to ease their categorical opposition to UN sanctions on Iran if negotiations stalled.

"What they have agreed is that if Iran does not accept this offer of negotiations or does not negotiate in good faith, we will return to the Security Council," the official said.