US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said engaging Iran in talks does not count as a concession. Instead, he framed diplomacy as a test of intent rather than a guarantee of success. Rubio told reporters on Wednesday that Washington will enter discussions to see if progress is possible. Moreover, he added that the United States remains skeptical about the outcome. Therefore, he insisted that any dialogue must tackle Iran’s ballistic missile program.
Rubio stressed that talks will proceed only if Tehran shows seriousness. He said the US will not accept empty gestures or vague promises. Furthermore, he argued that diplomacy should produce measurable results. He noted that Iran must address both nuclear and missile concerns. Otherwise, he said, the United States will not sit down at the table. Rubio also criticized Iran’s political system, saying it does not represent the Iranian people. He accused Iran’s leadership of using national resources to support armed groups abroad.
Earlier, Axios reported that negotiations stalled after Washington rejected proposed changes to the venue and format. Later, a US official told Reuters that talks are now scheduled for February 6 in Muscat, Oman. Additionally, Axios said the meeting moved forward after appeals from Arab and Muslim leaders. Nine regional states reportedly urged the Trump administration to hear Iran’s position. Therefore, the negotiations regained momentum despite earlier uncertainty.
Iran and the United States initially discussed holding a meeting in Istanbul. They planned to include other parties as observers. However, Tehran sought to shift the talks to Muscat and limit them to a bilateral format. Iran aimed to confine discussions to the nuclear file and exclude missile issues. Meanwhile, Washington and regional partners insist ballistic missiles remain a top priority. Consequently, the venue and scope of talks now remain key points of disagreement. Rubio said the process will test Tehran’s intentions, not reward its behavior, making the diplomatic effort a true test of intent.
