US would welcome any Iranian steps to slow nuclear program

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Iranian-American writer Roya Hakakian, Iranian-American activist Sherry Hakimi and British-Iranian actress and activist Nazanin Boniadi to discuss the recent protests in Iran at the U.S. State Department in Washington, U.S., October 14, 2022. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday he could not confirm a report that Iran slowed its pace of amassing near-weapons-grade enriched uranium but would welcome any Iranian steps to de-escalate its "growing nuclear threat."

Blinken also told reporters that Iran moving U.S. detainees into house arrest was not related to any other aspect of U.S. policy toward Iran, which he said reflected a strategy of deterrence, pressure and diplomacy.