US enlists Austria and Greece as intermediaries in Iran nuclear talks

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — The United States has brought Austria and Greece into diplomatic efforts to break the stalemate in nuclear talks with Iran, The Washington Post reported. President Donald Trump's team is seeking additional mediators to soften Tehran's position, the newspaper said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger in Washington and held a phone call with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis. Both European ministers subsequently made direct contact with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The State Department confirmed that Iran was on the agenda in those discussions but denied that any message was relayed to Tehran. Analysts cited by the Post said Austria was chosen because it hosts the International Atomic Energy Agency and was the venue for negotiations on the 2015 nuclear deal. Greece's role, they said, reflects its shipping interests in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea and its focus on freedom of maritime navigation. The diplomatic initiative comes as the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran is due to expire on August 17, and ahead of November's U.S. congressional midterm elections, with economic pressure on both governments intensifying.