US Accepts Mutual Steps to Return to Nuclear Deal

Officials from Iran, China, Russia, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom will meet digitally on Friday to discuss the possibility of the United States rejoining the 2015 nuclear agreement, according to a statement released by the European Union on Thursday.

"Participants will discuss the prospect of a possible return of the United States to the JCPOA and how to ensure the full and effective implementation of the agreement by all sides," the statement said.

The United States accepted the news and stated that it was willing to take "mutual steps" to return to the nuclear agreement.

"We obviously welcome this as a positive step," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

"We are ready to pursue a return to compliance with our JCPOA commitments consistent with Iran also doing the same... We've been looking at options for doing so [a series of initial mutual steps], including with indirect conversations through our European partners," Price added.