US negotiators do not know whether Iran is willing to do a deal to scale back its nuclear programme, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
Mr Blinken said the US was committed to restoring the Iran nuclear deal, from which former president Donald Trump withdrew in 2018.
Talks between Iran and world powers have since taken place in Vienna aimed at bringing the parties back together.
Mr Blinken cautioned on Thursday that it was still unclear whether Iran was willing to strike a new deal.
"We've been engaged in Vienna for some weeks with our European partners, Russia and China, and indirectly with Iran," he told BBC's Radio 4 Today programme.
“We’ve demonstrated our seriousness of purpose in terms of wanting to get back into the so-called JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]. Compliance for compliance. What we don’t yet know is whether Iran is prepared to make the same decision and move forward.”
He said Iran was nearing the point of being capable of producing nuclear weapons.
“Before the agreement was reached some years ago, Iran was on the path where in a matter of weeks it could produce fissile material for a nuclear weapon and leave us no time to do anything about it,” he said.
“Right now, unfortunately, Iran has itself lifted many of the constraints imposed on it by the agreement because we pulled out. It is now getting closer and closer again to that point where its breakout time is going to be down to a few months and eventually even less.”
Mr Blinken's warning came as imagery obtained by the International Institute of Strategic Studies released on Wednesday to The National revealed the construction of a new set of seven silos storing advanced new missiles in southern Iran.
Families of western citizens held in Iran urged officials to link negotiations with Tehran to the plight of their relatives.
At least four Britons, four Americans, two Germans, two French people, two Swedes and two Austrians are detained in Iran.
Among the British citizens is Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, whose family say a UK debt of £400 million ($550 million) owed to Iran is a major reason for her detention.
The UK denied a report on Iranian television over the weekend that suggested the British government had paid the debt, with Foreign Office minister James Cleverly indicating the UK was still discussing the issue with Iran.
Asked whether the US would oppose a UK decision to pay the debt, Mr Blinken said: “It’s a sovereign decision for the UK.”
The US was forced to deny a separate report that Washington had agreed to release $7 billion in frozen Iranian funds and to free four Iranians in exchange for the release of four Americans.
Germany, France and the UK are the European powers negotiating a possible return to the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, which US President Joe Biden is keen to re-enter if Tehran meets certain conditions.
Under the original accord, the US lifted sanctions on Iran worth billions of dollars in exchange for Tehran winding up its nuclear programme.
More on Iran
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Profile of RentSher
Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Schedule:
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Breast cancer in men: the facts
1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.
2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash.
3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible.
4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key.
5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Pathaan
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Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
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