Washington DC, June 2 -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday said that negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme, as part of the overall peace talks between the two sides, would be "highly technical" in nature and could take several months to conclude.

Testifying in front of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio indicated that the next phase of discussions would depend on Iran taking specific steps, including reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz under agreed conditions, and the disposition of the highly enriched uranium.

"Phase 2 is they have to commit to very specific negotiations. On the disposition of the highly enriched uranium that still is buried deep in a mountain somewhere...They have to agree on negotiati...