WH comments on Olympics, Iran talks and Navalny

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday that the White House is not looking at a boycott of the 2022 Olympics.

"We have not discussed, and are not discussing, any joint boycott with allies and partners," she said.

When asked if the U.S. government would discourage Americans from traveling to China, Psaki said the Biden administration hopes that by the time of the event, "we are at a point where enough people across the country, and hopefully around the world have been vaccinated" against COVID-19.

China's government earlier Wednesday warned Washington not to boycott next year's Winter Olympics in Beijing after the Biden administration said it was talking with allies about a joint approach to complaints of human rights abuses.

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson rejected accusations of abuses against ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region. He warned of an unspecified "robust Chinese response" to a potential Olympics boycott.

Human rights groups are protesting China's hosting of the games, due to start in February 2022. They have urged a boycott or other measures to call attention to accusations of Chinese abuses against Uyghurs, Tibetans and residents of Hong Kong.

Psaki described as "a constructive first step," continuing talks in Vienna with envoys from Russia, China, Germany, France, Britain and Iran as the U.S. was due to start its own indirect talks with Iran.

Officials from five world powers began a new effort Tuesday to try to bring the United States back into the foundering 2015 nuclear deal they signed with Iran, a delicate diplomatic dance that needs to balance the concerns and interests of both Washington and Tehran.

Psaki also reacted to news of detained Russian dissident Alexei Navalny's worsening health and hunger strike.

"We urge Russian authorities to take all necessary actions to ensure his safety and health," adding that the Russian government is responsible for his health and wellbeing.