Biden plans to continue Iran nuclear talks after plot exposed to kidnap US reporter

White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Wednesday said the Biden administration will continue talks aimed at forging a new Iran nuclear deal — despite federal authorities announcing this week that four Iranian intelligence operatives schemed to kidnap a US-based journalist and smuggle her to Iran in a bid to silence her criticism of the Islamic Republic.

Psaki said at her daily press briefing that “we will continue to pursue those talks, pursue the diplomatic path forward, which we think is in our interests and continues to be constructive.” But Psaki said “we have never assessed Iran to be a good actor” and noted that President Biden recently ordered airstrikes against Iran-backed groups in Syria and Iraq that allegedly threatened US troops.