Ready for negotiations with Iran: US

Washington, Jun 16: US State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said that they are recommitted to diplomatic options with Iran, though the goal remains the same, to prevent the nation from acquiring nuclear weapons.

"I don't think that there should be any doubt in Tehran's mind that we stand ready. When we were with the Iranian representative in Geneva on October 1st, we made clear that we hope to have a follow-up meeting. At that meeting, Iran itself said that it was willing to meet again. Then subsequently Iran failed to follow up," Crowley said.

He said that US wants to see Iran understand that the pursuit of nuclear weapons is not in its security interest. US is prepared to have a broader conversation regarding the matter, beginning with their nuclear concerns, he said.

"But really, what has been absent over the past year has been constructive engagement by Iran absent one meeting in Geneva last October 1st.European countries, the US have made this clear to Iran on a number of occasions that we are ready to engage.It has been Iran that has been unwilling to come forward," Crowley said.

He said that US want to see a confident but peaceful Iran emerge, which allows for freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and allows for a much broader and pluralistic political system than at present.

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