Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran represent a positive step, but any eventual agreement must prevent Tehran from advancing its nuclear ambitions or financing terrorist organizations, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said on Newsmax on Monday.

The New York Republican told Newsmax's "Wake Up America" that Iranian officials' participation in negotiations with the Trump administration marks significant progress after doubts about whether Tehran would participate at all.

"First of all, I think it's very positive that they're meeting," Malliotakis said. "Remember, there was a time where we didn't think they were even going to come to the table. And now we have a 60-day extension. They're actively negotiating."

The congresswoman pointed to developments in regional commerce as signs of progress, noting that shipping traffic continues to move through critical waterways during the talks.

Still, Malliotakis said lawmakers will closely scrutinize the substance of any agreement reached between the two sides.

"As a member of Congress, we're obviously looking at this saying, well, we want to make sure that Iran is going to turn over its enriched uranium, that they're not going to continue to work toward a nuclear program," she said.

Malliotakis also raised concerns about sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian assets, arguing that safeguards must be in place to prevent the funds from reaching terrorist groups.

"We want to make sure that any sanctions relief, that any unfrozen assets are not going to be used to fund terrorism, to keep Hezbollah attacking Israel or Hamas continuing its terrorist activity," she said.

The congresswoman described Iran as the primary financial backer of both organizations and said preventing the regime from directing resources to terrorist groups should be a central objective of any agreement.

While acknowledging that difficult negotiations remain ahead, Malliotakis said the current diplomatic effort offers the best opportunity to secure lasting stability in the Middle East.

"The next step, I think, is the harder part," she said. "But the good news is that they are talking. They are making what seems to be progress."

Malliotakis urged Americans to support President Donald Trump's efforts to transform the current framework into a broader regional peace agreement.

"We should all be rooting for President Trump and his administration to be successful here," she said. "Turning this memorandum of understanding into a long-term peace deal for the region – that is the best thing not only for our allies, for the Middle East, but also for our security and safety here in the United States."

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