U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday night called on Iran to show its willingness to pursue a peaceful nuclear program, while urging the U.S. public and the Congress to get behind efforts to reduce nuclear weapons worldwide.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at a Washington gala held by the Ploughshares Fund in Washington on Oct. 28, 2013. Kerry called Monday on Iran to show its willingness to pursue a peaceful nuclear program.

However, Kerry said Iran must demonstrate such willingness with action, and action must be real and verifiable, as "words cannot replace real action."

During his remarks, Kerry also urged the U.S. public and the Congress to get behind efforts to reduce nuclear weapons worldwide.

Iranian negotiators on Monday kicked off talks with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna over inspection framework, raising hope for progress in the direction of allowing access of international inspectors into Iran's nuclear sites.

Source: Xinhuanet