MUNICH: The United States is open to diplomatic engagement with Iran, and President Donald Trump would be prepared to meet Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei if Tehran sought talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
Speaking during the Munich Security Conference, Rubio said the US administration preferred a negotiated agreement with Iran and believed dialogue remained the most effective way to address disputes.
He said the president was willing to meet any counterpart if it could help resolve international tensions, adding that such a meeting would not imply agreement but an attempt to pursue diplomacy.
Rubio also described Washington’s decision to deploy an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East as a precautionary measure aimed at preventing escalation and maintaining regional stability.
The remarks come amid ongoing concerns over regional security and efforts by multiple countries to avoid further confrontation in the Middle East.
