The White House on Saturday denied a report in the New York Times that said the Obama administration had agreed to one-on-one talks with Iran on its nuclear program.
National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement the United States would continue to work with fellow permanent members of the UN Security Council to resolve the issue.
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"It's not true that the United States and Iran have agreed to one-on-one talks or any meeting after the American elections," the statement said.
"We continue to work with the P-5 (five permanent members of the UN Security Council) on a diplomatic solution and have said from the outset that we would be prepared to meet bilaterally."
The report cited Obama administration officials saying the talks will take place some time after the November 6 US presidential election, as Iran insists on knowing who the American president will be at the time.
The Times reported that the agreement was the culmination of years-long intense back-channel communications between Iranian and US officials.
The paper stated that while the announcement may enable US President Barack Obama to make a case that he is nearing a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran, it may also allow the Iranians to buy time to continue their nuclear progress.
In this respect, the Times warned that there is still a chance that the initiative could fall through, even in the event Obama is re-elected. Specifically, American officials told the paper they were uncertain whether Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had signed off on the deal, although the American understandings reportedly have been reached with senior Iranian officials who report to him.
The United States and other Western powers have charged that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons, but Tehran insists the program is for peaceful purposes. Israel has said it would use military force to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has attacked Obama for failing to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions. The two candidates will meet on Monday in their final debate, which will focus on foreign policy.
National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement the United States would continue to work with fellow permanent members of the UN Security Council to resolve the issue.
Related:
"It's not true that the United States and Iran have agreed to one-on-one talks or any meeting after the American elections," the statement said.
"We continue to work with the P-5 (five permanent members of the UN Security Council) on a diplomatic solution and have said from the outset that we would be prepared to meet bilaterally."
The report cited Obama administration officials saying the talks will take place some time after the November 6 US presidential election, as Iran insists on knowing who the American president will be at the time.
The Times reported that the agreement was the culmination of years-long intense back-channel communications between Iranian and US officials.
The paper stated that while the announcement may enable US President Barack Obama to make a case that he is nearing a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran, it may also allow the Iranians to buy time to continue their nuclear progress.
In this respect, the Times warned that there is still a chance that the initiative could fall through, even in the event Obama is re-elected. Specifically, American officials told the paper they were uncertain whether Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had signed off on the deal, although the American understandings reportedly have been reached with senior Iranian officials who report to him.
The United States and other Western powers have charged that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons, but Tehran insists the program is for peaceful purposes. Israel has said it would use military force to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has attacked Obama for failing to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions. The two candidates will meet on Monday in their final debate, which will focus on foreign policy.