The United States is prepared to hold talks with Iran on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday, although no such meeting has been scheduled.
Speaking on NBC’s Today programme, Rubio said Washington was interested in engaging with Tehran if there was a possibility of achieving a positive outcome.
“We are interested in it,” Rubio said, while noting that he did not believe a meeting had been arranged at this point. He added that the United States was nevertheless ready for such discussions.
The central objective of any engagement, Rubio said, would be to ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.
“Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said, stressing that the United States would not allow Tehran to acquire one.
The comments come as world leaders and senior officials gather in New York for the UN General Assembly, creating an opportunity for high-level diplomatic contacts on a range of international issues.
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