Washington: Axios reported the cancellation of the talks scheduled for next Friday between Iran and the United States. The website quoted US officials as saying, ‘The nuclear talks scheduled for Friday were canceled because the Iranians refused to discuss non-nuclear issues.’

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Washington informed Tehran that it would not agree to its demands to change the venue and format of Friday’s talks. We told Iran it was either this or nothing, and they replied, ‘Then nothing.'”

Earlier on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States was ready to meet with the Iranians next Friday. Media outlets quoted Rubio as saying, ‘We are ready to meet with the Iranians on Friday,’ explaining that ‘the Iranians agreed to a certain format for the talks but then changed their minds.’

He added that “President Trump has several options regarding the response,” clarifying that “the venue for the talks with Iran is still under consideration.”