World · Malaysia Bureau
US Open to Iran Talks at UN General Assembly, Rubio Says
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signalled openness to holding talks with Iranian officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, though no meeting has been formally scheduled.
LSN Malaysia ·
Rubio indicated that the United States would be willing to engage with senior Iranian representatives during the annual gathering at the United Nations in New York, where top officials from Tehran are expected to attend.
The statement marks a notable shift in diplomatic positioning, with the US secretary of state emphasising flexibility in potential discussions with Tehran. However, Rubio stressed that such a meeting remains contingent and has not yet been formally arranged or confirmed by either party.
The UN General Assembly provides a key diplomatic platform where world leaders and senior officials convene for multilateral discussions. The potential talks would occur informally on the margins of the main assembly proceedings, a common practice for diplomatic engagement between nations.
Tensions between the United States and Iran have remained high in recent years, making any diplomatic contact significant. The willingness to meet, even without concrete plans in place, could signal efforts to explore channels of communication amid ongoing regional tensions.
No statement from Iranian officials regarding potential bilateral talks has yet been released.