Rubio: U.S. ready for direct talks with Iran

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States is prepared to engage in direct negotiations with Iran aimed at resolving the nuclear impasse, after a series of high-level communications between a U.S. envoy and Iranian officials.

Rubio confirmed that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had held the most substantive direct discussions since April, conducting several direct calls to explore diplomatic alternatives amid escalating regional tensions. He emphasized that while Iran continues uranium enrichment, it expressed willingness to resume broader talks—pending assurances that Israel would refrain from new strikes.

Rubio also highlighted growing European involvement, citing U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s forthcoming engagement in Geneva alongside French and German counterparts. Rubio said these diplomatic efforts reflected a shared Western aim: “Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon.”