US pushes to widen talks with Iran beyond nuclear issue

Meaningful talks between the United States and Iran will have to include Tehran’s missile arsenal and other issues, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday, as Tehran said it would only discuss its nuclear programme, not its missiles.

Talks between the countries amid fears of a military confrontation have been planned for Friday, with Iran pushing to restrict the negotiations to discussion of its long-running nuclear dispute with Western countries.

“If the Iranians want to meet, we’re ready,” Rubio said.