There is an opportunity for diplomacy with Iran: White House

There is an opportunity for diplomacy with Iran, the White House has said.
"It is fair to say that the President believes there is an opportunity for diplomacy when it comes to the issues that have presented challenges to the United States and our allies with regards to Iran," White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney, told reporters yesterday.
"We hope that the Iranian government takes advantage of this opportunity. We have heard a lot in the world from President Rouhani's administration, about its desire to improve the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran's relations with the international community," he said.

In response to a question, he said that the President believes "that we should test that assertion, and we are and we will do that" adding that Obama has no plans to meet with his Iranian counterpart during the UN General Assembly session in New York next week. The two presidents are scheduled to speak the same day.
In an interview last week, Obama had said that he exchanged letter with the Iranian president.
"And in his letter, the President indicated that the US is ready to resolve the nuclear issue in a way that allows Iran to demonstrate that its nuclear program is for exclusively peaceful purposes," he said.

"The letter also conveyed the need to act with a sense of urgency to address this issue because as we have long said, the widow of opportunity for resolving this diplomatically is open, but it will not remain open indefinitely," Carney said.

In another statement, the United States welcomed reports that the Iranian Government has released several prisoners of conscience, including human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh.
"President Rouhani pledged repeatedly during his campaign to restore and expand freedoms for all Iranians, and called for expanded political and social freedoms, including freedom of expression.
In the months ahead, we hope he will continue to keep his promises to the Iranian people," State Department Deputy Spokesperson, Marie Harf, said.

The US will continue to urge the Iranian Government to take steps to improve the country's human rights situation.
"Accordingly, we renew our call today for Iran to release all prisoners of conscience in its custody," she said.