Acordo com Irã vem de negociações secretas com EUA

Iran has agreed to reduce its nuclear activity and allow greater access for international inspectors in historic talks in Geneva. In return, the world powers will offer some relief from financial sanctions. The agreement creates a six-month trial period.

Repórter: Mark Wooldridge

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In public, a key step along the path to the deal was the dialogue opened up at this year's UN General Assembly between President Rouhani and Western nations, after years of the relationship being dominated by whether Iran is, or is not, seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

And - more than thirty years after the US embassy siege in Tehran - September's fifteen-minute phone conversation between President Obama and Mr Rouhani gave further hope of potential progress towards resolving the nuclear dispute.

But behind the scenes, it has now been revealed, the US and Iran have been engaged in secret face-to-face talks for months, in Oman and elsewhere. The Associated Press news agency says they were kept hidden even from America's allies and negotiating partners until two months ago.

It was a high stakes diplomatic gamble. While Israel argues that the deal reached in Geneva is dangerously skewed in favour of Iran, most of Iran's Arab neighbours are clearly uneasy too.

But the public and private diplomacy from here on will clearly need to be just as intense - and is likely to face many more severe tests - if a more comprehensive nuclear agreement is to be achieved, and Iran's relationships in its volatile region and with the rest of the world are to return to normal.

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seeking pursuing; wanting to do something

siege military operation in which soldiers or police surround a place to stop food and supplies entering, so that the people inside stop fighting and come out

engaged in involved in

high stakes high risk

gamble action which may be very successful but with a risk of failing very badly

skewed unfair; unbalanced

uneasy uncomfortable, worried

comprehensive including many details; covering many aspects