Rubio: Iran has agreed to negotiate several aspects of nuclear programme

Speaking at a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for the State Department's budgetary application, Rubio said: “We are in talks... There's a possibility ahead of us that can happen today, it can happen tomorrow, it can happen next week, which for the first time, for the first time in my memory, they have agreed to negotiate some aspects of their” nuclear programme, writes abcnews. al.

He said the US hopes these negotiations will lead to a broader consensus that will include reopening this strategic maritime route.

“We hope that something like this can happen, where the straits will reopen, and we will enter a period of negotiations on very specific issues, with the aim of achieving an acceptable outcome for both us and for them,” he said.

Rubio sharply criticised Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz, calling <x0 illegal>”.

There is no country in the world except Iran and perhaps Oman who has flirted with this, so that it is in favour of what Iran is doing in the 911 straits, he said. “Kinnes are against, Russians are against, they're all against, the whole world is against”, Rubio added.

He said reopening the strait means that ships must switch to international waters “pa was attacked” and “without paying taxes”.

Asked whether the easing of sanctions has been discussed in exchange for reopening the strait, Rubio replied: “No, it has not been discussed”.

“Any sanctions relief is conditional, which means it has to be in exchange for the reason for which those sanctions are imposed in the first place, which is their nuclear programme”, the American top diplomat said.