Rubio Says U.S. Open To Iran Talks At U.N.
20 hours ago
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the United States is open to speaking with Iranian officials during this week’s United Nations General Assembly, although no meeting between the two sides is currently scheduled.
“We’re open to that,” Rubio said Tuesday during an interview with NBC’s “Today.” He said Washington would consider talks if there were prospects for a positive outcome.
Rubio said the administration’s central objective remains preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. His comments come as President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are both in New York for the U.N. gathering.
Trump has also indicated he would be open to meeting with Pezeshkian. However, a senior Iranian official told Reuters there are currently no plans for a direct meeting between the two presidents. The official said Iran’s delegation has authority to pursue renewed negotiations while in New York.
The possibility of renewed diplomacy comes amid the continuing U.S.-Iran conflict and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran could reopen the strait to Gulf shipping within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade of Iranian ports. The official said Iran recently communicated its proposal to Washington through mediators.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes. Disruptions there have contributed to volatility in global energy markets, though oil prices fell Tuesday as prospects for increased Gulf supplies improved.
Trump is also scheduled to meet Tuesday with leaders from the six Gulf Cooperation Council nations — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — with Iran and regional security expected to be major topics.
Rubio said the administration remains willing to pursue diplomacy if talks can produce progress, while maintaining its position that Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
“We’re open to that,” Rubio said Tuesday during an interview with NBC’s “Today.” He said Washington would consider talks if there were prospects for a positive outcome.
Rubio said the administration’s central objective remains preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. His comments come as President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are both in New York for the U.N. gathering.
Trump has also indicated he would be open to meeting with Pezeshkian. However, a senior Iranian official told Reuters there are currently no plans for a direct meeting between the two presidents. The official said Iran’s delegation has authority to pursue renewed negotiations while in New York.
The possibility of renewed diplomacy comes amid the continuing U.S.-Iran conflict and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran could reopen the strait to Gulf shipping within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade of Iranian ports. The official said Iran recently communicated its proposal to Washington through mediators.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes. Disruptions there have contributed to volatility in global energy markets, though oil prices fell Tuesday as prospects for increased Gulf supplies improved.
Trump is also scheduled to meet Tuesday with leaders from the six Gulf Cooperation Council nations — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — with Iran and regional security expected to be major topics.
Rubio said the administration remains willing to pursue diplomacy if talks can produce progress, while maintaining its position that Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
