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Hello and welcome to NewsHour from the BBC World Service.

We're coming to you live from London.

I'm Leila Nathu.

We will get to the dazzling official opening of the Winter Olympics very shortly and hear what the games in Milan and Cortina in Italy have in store for us over the next 16 days.

But let us start the program in Amman, where American and Iranian officials sat down for mediated discussions in Muscat today.

Consider the backdrop to these talks.

An Iranian regime shaken by massive protests

last month, weakened by US and Israeli strikes last summer, and a major US military build-up in the

region and threats of an attack designed to exert pressure on Tehran. Ahead of the talks, there

wasn't even clarity about what was on the agenda. Iran wanted

to limit discussion to its nuclear capabilities. Washington wanted to expand them to include

ballistic missiles and Tehran's support for armed groups in the region, as well as the regime's treatment

of its people. Still, at the end of the day, Iran's foreign minister said the

talks had been useful. In a very positive atmosphere, our arguments were exchanged and the other

party's views were shared with us. Overall, it's a good start, but what happens next will depend

on our consultations with the capitals to determine the

way forward. The parties agreed to continue negotiations, but we will decide on the modalities

and timing at a later date in consultation with the Amani Foreign Minister. Earlier, I spoke to

Nafisa Konovad from BBC Persian, who is in Amman and has been following the talks.

Well, Leila, the US delegation, they didn't talk to any media, but Iran delegation led by Mr.

Arochchi, Iran's foreign minister. He told the media that came from Iran and accompanying him.

...