US and Iran issue sharply different statements on ongoing talks
Marco Rubio (photo: Getty Images)
The United States will consider "alternatives" regarding Iran if diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear issue fail, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, Reuters reports.
Speaking to journalists in New Delhi, he stressed that the White House first seeks to use all available diplomatic tools before considering "alternatives."
The United States is counting either on reaching a good agreement or on the need to act in "another way," the Secretary of State emphasized.
Rubio added that Washington has already presented Tehran with a concrete and solid proposal for resuming negotiations around Iran's nuclear program. This plan envisions Iran's ability to open the strait and begin a "real, significant, time-limited" dialogue.
Tehran's reaction
For his part, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed that there has been some progress in discussions on a potential memorandum of understanding with the United States. However, according to him, this does not yet indicate that a final agreement is close to being signed.
The spokesman for the Iranian ministry noted that Tehran is currently focused on negotiations to end the war and is not holding discussions on nuclear issues. In addition, Iran's Foreign Ministry accused US officials of changing their positions, which, in their opinion, creates additional obstacles to reaching agreements.
What preceded this
On May 24, US President Donald Trump instructed his negotiators "not to rush into a deal," saying that time is on Washington's side. A day earlier, he stated that a framework agreement with Iran, referred to as a memorandum of understanding, had been "largely negotiated."
The document is primarily aimed at ending the war and also provides for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the American blockade. If an agreement is reached within 30–60 days, the sides will agree on a final document on ending the war.
According to CBS News, Iran allegedly agreed to dispose of its highly enriched uranium.
