State Department spokesman: Iran must take de-escalatory steps on its nuclear program

Iran must take "de-escalatory" steps on its nuclear program if it wants to make space for diplomacy with the United States, starting by cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

"Iran must take de-escalatory steps if it wants to reduce tensions and create a space for diplomacy," Miller told reporters.

"Just in the last few weeks, we've seen Iran take steps to undermine the International Atomic Energy Agency's ability to do its work," he added. "So if Iran really is serious about taking de-escalatory steps, the first thing it (could) do would be to cooperate with the IAEA."

Miller said the steps he was talking about as a potential prelude to renewed US-Iran talks, whether direct or indirect, had to do with the Iranian nuclear program, though he did not provide further details. READ MORE