The White House says Iran's nuclear program is a key topic in Biden and Starmer's discussions

On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden will meet with new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss a range of issues including Iran's nuclear program and Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Monday, July 8, that Biden will emphasize the importance of continuing to strengthen U.S.-U.K. relations during this meeting in Washington. According to her, the two leaders will have an opportunity to discuss U.S.-U.K. cooperation on various issues, from the Ukraine war to the Gaza conflict, and they want to ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons. The White House rejected the resumption of nuclear negotiations after the Iranian elections. This statement comes as Massoud Pezeshkian, the newly elected President of Iran, presented himself as a defender of the JCPOA during the recent election campaign. His main foreign policy advisor is Mohammad Javad Zarif, the former foreign minister of Iran, who conducted extensive negotiations with his American and European counterparts that led to the nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA. However, John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, dismissed the idea of resuming nuclear negotiations with Iran after Pezeshkian's government took office, stating that Washington does not expect a change in the behavior of the Islamic Republic. Kirby emphasized that the Iranian government still supports 'terrorist groups' such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthi militants. Karine Jean-Pierre also mentioned that one of the topics Biden and Starmer will discuss is countering the threats posed by Iran-backed Houthis against international commercial shipping. The Houthis in Yemen have carried out multiple attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since last November, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, prompting the United States to form an international military coalition in the region to counter them.