U.S. Blocks Iran Websites as Tensions Rise Before Nuclear Talks

The U.S. has blocked three dozen Iranian websites in retaliation for what Washington described as an attempt to influence American elections, a move likely to inflame tensions as diplomats seek to restart nuclear talks in Vienna.

Washington acted as world powers seek to revive a 2015 deal with Iran that could see it return to global oil markets in exchange for curtailing contentious nuclear work. On Thursday a deadline expires for a monitoring pact between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which if not renewed could also complicate diplomacy over the deal and hurt efforts to ease a standoff that has stoked tensions in the energy-producing Persian Gulf.