Washington, Apr. 9 : The United States has said it would start negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.
The decision is has being seen as a further step toward the direct engagement with Iran that US President Barack Obama has promised.
It followed an invitation to Iran to join in a new round of talks, which would include Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China. It also coincided with an unusual expression of conciliation toward the United States by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, reports the New York Times.