Dubai. November 20. INTERFAX - Washington still wants to resolve Iran's nuclear issue through dialogue, but if Tehran does not demonstrate seriousness of intentions, the United States will study all ways to ensure its security, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said at the Manama Security Dialogue.
"The United States remains committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. And we continue to be committed to a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue," the Associated Press quoted him as saying.
"But if Iran does not want to do business seriously, then we will look at all options in order to ensure the security of the United States," he continued.
Austin also promised to counter Iran's use of suicide drones in the Middle East.
Touching upon the topic of the redeployment of part of the American troops from the region, Austin assured that both allies and opponents of the United States should remember the ability of the country to transfer its superior military forces to the area and at the time that Washington itself deems appropriate. He noted that in the event of potential military actions, the United States will act together with its allies, using both pre-deployed forces and units quickly transferred to the theater of operations.
In 2015, Iran and the six countries - the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany - concluded a nuclear agreement - the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which limited Iran's development of a nuclear program in exchange for a step-by-step lifting of sanctions.
In 2018, US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and resumed anti-Iranian sanctions, which prompted Tehran to gradually abandon compliance with some of the terms of the deal.
From April to June of this year, Iran and a number of world powers held six rounds of talks in Vienna with the aim of restoring the JCPOA. Then the negotiations were suspended: Iranian officials stated that Tehran would be ready to continue negotiations after the inauguration of the new Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi in early August and the formation of a new government.
Earlier it became known that negotiations on the return of the United States and Iran to the JCPOA will resume in Vienna on November 29. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bakeri-Kani then called the purpose of these talks "the lifting of illegal sanctions" by the United States.
