Vaughn Cockayne | May 2, 2025
(The Washington Times) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran must “walk away” from all nuclear enrichment and ballistic missile programs, taking a public hard line as negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue.
In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Mr. Rubio said there can be no long-lasting deal between the U.S and Iran if Tehran is unwilling to give up several initiatives.
“They have to walk away from sponsoring terrorists, they have to walk away from helping the Houthis, they have to walk away from building long-range missiles that have no purpose to exist other than having nuclear weapons, and they have to walk away from enrichment,” Mr. Rubio said Thursday.
Mr. Rubio went on to suggest that Iran could import enriched uranium, so it would not have to abandon its domestic commercial nuclear industry completely. He added that the U.S. must be allowed to inspect Iranian nuclear and military facilities regularly.
Iran has long maintained that its nuclear enrichment program is for civilian and commercial use and has denied seeking a nuclear weapon. Its foreign ministers have asserted repeatedly that it will not give up its nuclear sovereignty during negotiations.
Nuclear watchdogs and U.S. officials say Iran’s level of nuclear enrichment is far higher than what would be necessary for purely civilian purposes. During the past month’s talks, some have floated the possibility of Iran transferring ownership of its enriched uranium to a foreign ally like Russia. Iran’s foreign ministry has publicly declined to accept such an offer.
“If you have the ability to enrich at 3.67%, it only takes a few weeks to get to 20%, then 60% and then the 80 and 90% that you need for a weapon,” Mr. Rubio said Thursday.
Mr. Rubio’s comments on Thursday detail the deep divisions still in play during negotiations. The U.S. seeks limits on Iran’s nuclear enrichment and ballistic missile program in exchange for sanctions relief.
However, President Trump has repeatedly said that if Tehran and Washington are unable to come to a deal, he would launch bombing raids on Iran with Israel’s help. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a firm warning to Iran on Thursday, urging the Islamic Republic to halt its funding of Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Negotiators were expected to meet again in Rome on Saturday, but Omani mediators announced Thursday that talks had been postponed over logistical issues.
