NEW YORK— US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump remains prepared to reach a deal with Iran, while warning that Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and support for what Washington describes as terrorism could hinder negotiations.
Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Rubio said Trump wants an agreement that would give Iran an opportunity to become a “great and prosperous country.”
However, Rubio said Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and continued support for militant groups were creating obstacles to such an agreement. If Tehran maintains its current position, he said, Trump still has several options, including further military action.
Rubio did not provide details of discussions held this week but said the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) share a common position on ending attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels and keeping the Strait of Hormuz free from attacks and open to international shipping.
The secretary of state also said Washington could not simply withdraw and declare victory over Iran.
“The United States has to ensure that the Islamic Republic of Iran can never develop a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said, arguing that it would be unacceptable for a country Washington considers a leading state sponsor of terrorism to possess nuclear weapons.
He noted that many UN member states had previously supported the principle of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Rubio also said US efforts to constrain Iran’s nuclear programme went beyond last year’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. According to him, Trump’s approach is focused in part on protecting future generations from the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
On the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio said the US military was working to ensure that parts of the strategic waterway remained open to commercial oil tankers. The objective, he said, was to allow vessels to move safely and maintain global oil supplies.
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