'It is a good first step to find out if the Iranians are serious,' says State Department spokesperson Bruce ahead of Saturday's talks
The US said on Thursday that planned talks with Iran represent “a good first step” to determine whether Tehran is serious about diplomacy, as tensions rise over Iran's nuclear program.
“It is a good first step to find out if the Iranians are serious,” State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce told reporters when asked about Saturday's meeting.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US will hold direct talks with Iran this weekend, with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff set to meet a senior Iranian leader on Saturday in Oman to discuss Iran's nuclear program.
“That clearly would be the goal of that singular meeting and effort,” Bruce said. “As far as the arrangements, or what the rooms are, or who's in which rooms -- I don't have that for you, and I'm not going to speculate.”
The comments come following remarks from a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Shamkhani, who warned that Tehran could expel inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) if threats against the country continue.
Responding to the warning, Bruce called the potential expulsion “an escalation and a miscalculation on Iran's part.”
“The United States remains deeply concerned that Iran is amassing a growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium for which there is no credible peaceful purpose,” she said. “Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state producing highly enriched uranium at this level.”
Iran and world powers signed a nuclear agreement in 2015 for curbs on Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. But US President Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018.
Trump says Iran could not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, and has warned of military action if the talks do not succeed.
Iran argues its nuclear program is for civilian energy purposes only.
