The United States is ready to directly join talks on Iran's nuclear program if Tehran suspends uranium enrichment activities, United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday.
Updated at 9.15 pm
WASHINGTON: The United States is ready to directly join talks on Iran's nuclear program if Tehran suspends uranium enrichment activities, United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday.
Rice made the offer of the first substantive talks with Iran since diplomatic relations were broken off 26 years ago as she prepared to leave for a crucial meeting of world powers in Vienna on Tehran's suspected nuclear arms program.
"To underscore our commitment to a diplomatic solution and to enhance the prospects for success, as soon as Iran fully and verifiably suspends its enrichment and reprocessing activities, the United States will come to the table with our EU-3 colleagues and meet with Iran's representatives," she said in prepared remarks.
The United States is keeping all options, including a military one, on the table against Iran and the resumption of diplomatic ties is not under consideration, Rice said.
“The President is not going to take any of his options off the table, temporarily or otherwise,” Rice said when asked about a military option against Iran in the stand-off over Iran's nuclear program.
Rice announced US willingness to meet with Tehran if it suspended all its enrichment and reprocessing activities but stressed that resumption of diplomatic relations with Washington's long-time foe was not an option at the moment.
Rice also said she hoped a US offer to talk to Iran would add weight to European negotiations to get Tehran to suspend what Washington and its allies consider Iran's nuclear weapons program.
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