Rubio Says US Prepared For Later Nuclear Talks If Iran Opens Hormuz Strait

WASHINGTON, May 25 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States (US) was prepared to enter "into very serious talks" about Iran's nuclear programme if Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, Xinhua reported, citing The New York Times on Sunday.

The remarks suggested that Washington may take a phased approach and accept an interim agreement that did not immediately address Iran's nuclear programme, according to the report.

"You can't do a nuclear thing in 72 hours on the back of a napkin," Rubio told the newspaper in a brief interview during his visit to New Delhi.

"The straits have to be immediately reopened, and then we will enter, under agreed-to parameters, into very serious talks about enrichment, about the highly enriched uranium and about their pledge to never have nuclear weapons," Rubio said.

"It can't take years, but it'll take some time to work through those technical matters," Rubio added.

The state secretary suggested that the US could renew its threats to attack Iran if the negotiations do not bear fruit within two months.

"Ultimately, the approach has to deliver what we want it to deliver," Rubio said. "If it doesn't, then the president has every option available to him in 60 days that he has available to him now."

Neither the US nor Iran has released details publicly. Many critics have said such a phased deal could take away US President Donald Trump's leverage in further negotiations. 

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA