Rubio: any US-Iran deal must guarantee Tehran never obtains nuclear weapons
In short
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any agreement between Washington and Tehran must guarantee that Iran never obtains nuclear weapons, speaking at a press conference in Athens after meeting Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis. Rubio also said Iran should not have a nuclear program. Vedomosti, citing Bloomberg, reported that Iran is ready to restore international inspectors' access to struck nuclear sites in exchange for sanctions relief.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any agreement between Washington and Iran must guarantee that Tehran never obtains nuclear weapons. He said Washington would regard only an agreement that rules out Iran acquiring nuclear weapons as acceptable, and added that Tehran should not have a nuclear program. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Rubio made the remarks at a press conference in Athens following a meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Vedomosti reported, citing RIA Novosti. The documents do not quote the Greek side or describe other subjects discussed at the meeting. [ 3 ]
Vedomosti also cited Bloomberg reporting from 2 October that Iran was ready to restore international inspectors' access to nuclear sites that had been struck, in exchange for a easing of sanctions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the possibility in meetings with European and Middle Eastern diplomats at the UN while in New York for the General Assembly, according to those sources. The same people said Tehran's willingness to make such a concession could indicate serious economic pressure on the country: Bloomberg reported inflation in Iran approaching 90% year on year and the rial weakening by roughly 30% against the dollar. Araghchi also urged European countries to cancel the UN decision restoring broad sanctions on Iran. [ 3 ]
The documents also cite earlier statements: on 17 September Iran called for suspending US membership of the International Atomic Energy Agency, accusing Washington of violating the agency's charter, and on 13 September US Energy Secretary Chris Wright wrote that Washington was ready to supply Iran with nuclear fuel if Tehran abandoned its own uranium enrichment program. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The remarks set Washington's stated condition for any nuclear deal with Tehran, a file that touches global non-proliferation and sanctions policy. Vedomosti's reporting, citing Bloomberg, points to economic pressure inside Iran — near-90% annual inflation and a weaker rial — as a possible driver of Iranian flexibility. Details of any negotiation remain unconfirmed by the documents.
Key facts
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any agreement with Iran must guarantee that Tehran never obtains nuclear weapons. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Rubio said Washington would consider only an agreement that rules out Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. [ 3 ]
- Rubio also said Tehran should not have a nuclear program. [ 3 ]
- Rubio spoke at a press conference in Athens after meeting Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis. [ 3 ]
- Bloomberg reported on 2 October that Iran was ready to restore international inspectors' access to nuclear sites that were struck, in exchange for sanctions relief. [ 3 ]
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the possibility with European and Middle Eastern diplomats at the UN during the General Assembly in New York, according to Bloomberg sources. [ 3 ]
- Bloomberg reported Iranian inflation approached 90% year on year and the rial weakened by about 30% against the dollar. [ 3 ]
- On 17 September Iran called for suspending US membership of the IAEA; on 13 September US Energy Secretary Chris Wright wrote that Washington was ready to supply Iran with nuclear fuel if Tehran gave up its own uranium enrichment program. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether US-Iran negotiations are under way and on what terms. The documents report Rubio's stated conditions but do not say that talks are taking place or give a timetable.
- Iran's readiness to restore inspectors' access in exchange for sanctions relief. This rests on a single source, Bloomberg, as relayed by Vedomosti; no Iranian or US official confirmation appears in the documents.
- What was agreed, if anything, at the Athens meeting with the Greek foreign minister beyond the statements reported. Only Rubio's remarks are described; the Greek side is not quoted in the documents.
- Rubio made the statement at a press conference in Athens following a meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports Rubio's statement that a deal with Iran must guarantee Tehran will not possess nuclear weapons. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that any agreement with Iran must guarantee it does not obtain nuclear weapons. [ 2 ]
- Vedomosti publishes a fuller account, including that Rubio spoke in Athens after meeting the Greek foreign minister and that Iran should have no nuclear program. [ 3 ]