In an exclusive, the Boston Globe reports this morning that the Obama administration will take part, along with other countries, in direct talks with Iran. This is a significant shift in Iran relations. Nice to have real diplomacy back in vogue:

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration yesterday agreed to join regular, direct talks with Iran concerning its nuclear program along with five other countries, a major policy shift from previous administrations that have rejected face-to-face negotiations with Iranians.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton portrayed the talks as part of a broader effort to open up communications with a nation that the United States has largely shunned since its 1979 revolution.

"We believe that pursuing very careful engagement on a range of issues that affect our interests and the interests of the world with Iran makes sense," Clinton told reporters yesterday. "There's nothing more important than trying to convince Iran to cease its efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon."