US Congress briefed on Iran talks amid ongoing diplomatic tensions
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the administration of President Donald Trump does not operate under any illusion regarding the difficulty of negotiations with Iran, stressing that Washington will judge Tehran based on its actions rather than official statements.
His remarks came during a classified briefing delivered to members of the US House of Representatives alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff, where officials reviewed the latest developments in ongoing discussions related to a memorandum of understanding with Iran and addressed congressional concerns about the effectiveness of the diplomatic process.
According to officials familiar with the briefing, Rubio indicated that Iran has recently taken steps it had previously avoided, while emphasizing that the primary objective of the talks is to reach an agreement preventing Tehran from retaining highly enriched uranium.
Lawmakers were also informed that Iran has not received any financial payments under the framework of the proposed understanding, addressing concerns raised during the session.
Despite acknowledging the complexity of the negotiations, Rubio stressed that no one within the administration believes the process is straightforward or guaranteed to succeed, noting that the issue has persisted for decades due to its long-standing geopolitical sensitivity.
The briefing also included criticism from some Republican lawmakers, who questioned the rationale behind engaging with Tehran and expressed concerns that easing sanctions could be perceived as a political victory for Iran.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff updated lawmakers on the technical status of the negotiations, indicating that the expert team involved in nuclear discussions had recently moved from Switzerland to Qatar as talks continue in a new phase.
US officials confirmed that technical-level discussions are expected to continue throughout the week, with further regional consultations planned as part of broader diplomatic efforts involving multiple stakeholders in the Middle East.
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