Sharjah 2- KUNA: The White House confirmed Friday that the US has "agreed" to participate in talks with European, Russian and Chinese partners "to identify the issues involved in a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA with Iran."

"This is a welcome and potentially constructive early step even if the diplomatic road ahead may be long, as it was during the first negotiations around the JCPOA," White House Spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters.

She added, "We are very clear eyed about the hurdles that remain," and that "we don't anticipate presently that there will be direct talks between the United States and Iran through the process though we certainly remain open to them." Meanwhile, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter told reporters "this is a healthy first step forward.

"When it comes to issues that are discussed, we're going to talk about nuclear steps that Iran would need to take in order to return to a compliance with the terms of the JCPOA," she added.

She underscored that "obviously the goal is a mutual return to compliance of the JCPOA."

This comes as the US and other signatories of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are expected to meet in Vienna on Tuesday.