US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Iran must commit to negotiating “severe and long-term” limitations on its nuclear programme as part of a long-term peace deal.
Speaking to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, his first testimony to politicians since January, Mr Rubio said talks could take months.
Under an initial understanding the US is pursuing with Iran, Tehran would agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Once that happens, a second phase of talks for a durable peace deal would start.
“Phase two is they [Iran] have to commit to very specific negotiations on [the] disposition of the highly enriched uranium that still is buried deep in a mountain somewhere,” Mr Rubio said. “They have to agree on negotiating severe and long-term limitations and, or, cancellation of enrichment in activity in the second phase of negotiations.”
He said such highly technical matters could not be worked out in a few days.
“That would require a team of experts to meet over a 30, 60, 90-day period and work out the details, but they have to commit to their willingness to do that,” Mr Rubio said.
