Rubio Says Iran Talks Show Slight Progress, High-Enriched Uranium Must Be Addressed

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there has been slight progress in the ongoing talks between the United States and Iran.

After meeting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Helsingborg, Sweden, on May 22, Rubio said Washington was awaiting updates from the discussions. "There has been some progress," he said.

He added that he did not want to overstate the developments, but said there had been at least some movement and that it was a positive sign.

Rubio also said Iran must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons and that the issue of highly enriched uranium must be resolved to ensure that outcome.

Iran has about 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%.

The United States views that stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium, which can be quickly converted into weapons-grade material, as a core issue in preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Separately, foreign media reported that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had banned the transfer of enriched uranium overseas.

President Donald Trump reiterated the previous day that the United States intends to secure Iran's highly enriched uranium.

Rubio also addressed Iran's push to collect transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz.

He said Iran was trying to persuade Oman to participate in charging fees for passage through international waterways and added that no country should accept that. Rubio again urged the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution demanding that Iran stop obstructing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Lee Bo-bae, Hankyung.com guest reporter, newsinfo@hankyung.com