Iran Can Pursue Civil Nuclear Program If It Ends Uranium Enrichment, Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Iran can maintain a civilian nuclear program only if it agrees to end uranium enrichment activities, a core point of contention in ongoing diplomatic efforts.
“If Iran wants a civil nuclear program, they can have one just like many other countries in the world have one, and that is they import enriched material,” Rubio explained during an interview on The Free Press podcast. He added, “There’s a pathway to a civil, peaceful nuclear program if they want one, but if they insist on enriching, then they will be the only country in the world that doesn’t have a weapons program but is ‘enriching’ — that’s problematic.”
Rubio criticized the 2015 nuclear agreement, signed during the Obama administration, for granting Iran what he described as “permanent concessions” in return for “temporary” compliance. He clarified that the US under President Donald Trump is not seeking conflict but is committed to finding a diplomatic resolution: “He would prefer that it be something that we can negotiate,” Rubio said of Trump.
Rubio also warned that military confrontation with Iran would likely escalate into a broader regional conflict, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to diplomacy and a peaceful solution. “If there is a chance of peace, we’re going to give peace and a peaceful resolution to this challenge every opportunity to succeed,” he stated.
Iran and the US have recently held two rounds of talks in Oman and Italy, which both sides described as “constructive,” but Trump continues to insist on a new deal to replace the 2015 accord and has not ruled out military action if negotiations fail.
