Joe Biden’s goal of rejoining the Iran nuclear agreement that Donald Trump sought to dismantle was always going to be a testing process. Trump’s decision to abandon the 2015 accord three years ago and impose crippling sanctions on the Islamic republic destroyed whatever modicum of “detente” existed between longtime foes.

Tehran justifiably blames Washington for first violating an accord that Iran complied with prior to Trump’s punitive measures. Emboldened regime hardliners, who long resisted a deal with the “Great Satan”, feel vindicated. Biden, meanwhile, has to balance reviving a deal that many in his administration invested heavily in with navigating Congressional opposition and not appearing soft on an oppressive regime that stokes instability across the region.

The result has been a stand-off as each side insists the other has to make the first move. Washington says Iran must return to full compliance; Tehran demands that sanctions are first lifted. But it is in both parties’ interests to move forward and compromise if they are to ensure the survival of an agreement designed to prevent a Middle East arms race. There are at least tentative signs that the stand-off may be easing. The two sides have signalled they are capable of making gestures that display a seriousness to keep the accord alive.