WASHINGTON, April 23. /TASS/. The United States and Iran are not close to coming to terms on a nuclear deal, but Washington is committed to achieving a peaceful outcome that is acceptable to everyone, said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an interview with The Free Press.
"We’re a long way away from any sort of agreement with Iran. We recognize it’s difficult and hard," he said.
"But we’re committed to achieving a peaceful outcome that’s acceptable to everyone. It may not be possible, we don’t know. We would want to achieve a peaceful resolution to this and not resort to anything else, or even speculate about it at this point."
He said that Iran "has shown a willingness to talk. We’re going to talk to them. If there is a chance of peace, we’re going to give peace and a peaceful resolution to this challenge every opportunity to succeed."
The head of the American foreign policy department pointed out that the priorities of the United States remain unchanged.
"If Iran wants a civil nuclear program, they can have one just like many other countries in the world have one, meaning they can import enriched material," he said.
Rubio also commented on the statements of US special envoy Steven Witkoff about Washington's demands for negotiations with Iran. Last week Witkoff said that the main topics of the negotiations between the United States and Iran would be the introduction of restrictions on Tehran’s level of uranium enrichment and arms control, including missiles. However, he later wrote on X that concluding a new nuclear deal on the terms of the United States would mean the elimination of Iran's uranium enrichment program.
"I think what Steve was - the point he was trying to make in that interview, and has subsequently clarified, was he’s talking about the level of enrichment that they would be allowed - the level of enriched material that they would be allowed to import from outside, like multiple countries around the world do for their peaceful civil nuclear programs," Rubio explained.
Talks between the US and Iran
On April 12, the first round of talks on Iran’s nuclear program was held in Muscat between the United States and Iran with Omani mediation. The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and the American delegation by Witkoff.
On April 19, the second round was held in Rome, again mediated by Oman. According to Araghchi, the parties have reached a greater understanding on a number of issues. The next meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff is scheduled for April 26.