U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is ready to pursue diplomacy with Iran as nuclear talks resume in Geneva, using a visit to Budapest on Monday (16 January) to reaffirm both U.S. negotiating aims and strong ties with Hungary ahead of its April election.
Speaking alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Rubio said Washington remains committed to securing a deal that curbs Iran’s nuclear programme, while also addressing Tehran’s ballistic missile activities and regional influence.
“The United States is prepared to negotiate, but we will not ignore Iran’s destabilising actions in the region,” Rubio said.
He stressed that under President Donald Trump, diplomacy is preferred over military options, while warning that a successful outcome will require Iran to meet U.S. demands on both nuclear enrichment and sanctions.
The resumption of talks follows a first round of indirect negotiations in Oman earlier this month.
Rubio’s visit also underscored longstanding U.S.–Hungary ties. He described bilateral relations as entering a “golden era” and praised Orbán’s leadership, saying: “President Trump is deeply committed to your success, because your success is our success.”
The endorsement highlights the strategic importance Washington places on Hungary as a regional partner in Central Europe, particularly as Orbán prepares for a parliamentary election on 12 April.
The Hungarian prime minister, a long-time ally of Trump, has frequently clashed with the European Union while maintaining cordial ties with Russia. His domestic policies, including strict immigration controls and support for Christian conservatism, have drawn admiration from elements of the American hard right.
Analysts say the April vote will have significant implications for Europe’s conservative and far-right movements, as well as U.S. engagement in the region.
Rubio is concluding a two-day Central European tour that included Slovakia, aiming to strengthen security and diplomatic links ahead of the Geneva nuclear negotiations.
Prosecutors in Paraguay have charged former President Santiago Peña and ex-central bank chief Carlos Carvallo Spalding over the collapse of ...
Poland has declared two days of national mourning after a gunman opened fire in Kraków's historic main square. Investigators are examini...
The U.S. military has established a new unit to stop Iran transporting advanced weapons systems via its land borders and the Caspian Sea. ...
Democrats' sweeping victory in the U.S. midterm elections has sent technology stocks plunging, as investors fear tougher AI regulations could slow infrastructure development and threaten the boom that has driven market gains this year.
Poland has declared two days of national mourning after a gunman opened fire in Kraków's historic main square. Investigators are examining possible far-right influences and the discovery of three bodies at the suspect's home.
U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted a breakthrough in efforts to end the war in Ukraine after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, ahead of U.S.-mediated peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November.
Two people, including a child, were killed and 16 others injured when an intercity bus crashed in eastern France on Friday morning, authorities confirmed.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has vowed to fight attempts to impeach him, dismissing the growing campaign against him as politically motivated amid mounting criticism of his handling of the war in Iran.
Prosecutors in Paraguay have charged former President Santiago Peña and ex-central bank chief Carlos Carvallo Spalding over the collapse of Ueno Bank, and have asked a court to hold both men in pretrial detention.
Poland has declared two days of national mourning after a gunman opened fire in Kraków's historic main square. Investigators are examining possible far-right influences and the discovery of three bodies at the suspect's home.
Paraguay’s Vice President Pedro Alliana has assumed the presidency after the Senate impeached and ousted Santiago Peña amid a banking crisis that sparked widespread political backlash.
New Zealand’s ruling centre-right National Party has taken a narrow lead over the opposition Labour Party in Saturday’s general election, with the country’s current three-party coalition projected to retain power.
Russian forces launched a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv early on Saturday, 7 November, injuring two people and damaging residential buildings, just three days before U.S.-led peace talks with Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment