US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the Iranian regime is still led by extremist clerics, and that so far Washington has neither transferred nor approved any funds to Tehran. Speaking after a meeting with senior Gulf officials, Rubio also said the US will not agree to any payment or tax for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and described the results of the Israel-Lebanon talks as "very good," expressing hope for a declaration of intent soon.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a series of statements following a meeting with senior Gulf officials on Thursday, reaffirming Washington's stance on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Israel-Lebanon talks.
Rubio stated that the Iranian regime "is still led by extremist clerics" and that this has always been the case, directly contradicting recent remarks by President Trump suggesting that the regime's character may be shifting. He stressed that the US has not transferred or approved any funds to Iran — pushing back against reports that economic incentives may form part of ongoing negotiations.
On the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio reiterated that the US will not agree to any payment, fee, or tax for passage through the strait, regardless of its name or collection method. He said the Gulf states, including Oman, oppose such fees and that passage must return to its pre-war status.
Rubio described the results of the previous day's negotiations between Israel and Lebanon as "very good," and said he hopes to build on that progress toward a declaration of intent. This marks a cautious but positive signal on the diplomatic front between Jerusalem and Beirut.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Thursday, Rubio has been cautioning that while Washington negotiates with pragmatic elements in Iran, hardline clerics still control the security and military apparatus.
2 developments
- DevelopingRubio: US negotiating with Iran's pragmatists, but radical clerics still hold power
- DevelopingRubio dismisses Iranian 'extreme rhetoric', warns US will act if ships blocked
- StrongSecretary of State Rubio discusses Iran deal and Strait of Hormuz with UAE leadership
- DevelopingRubio assures Gulf states their interests will be protected in Iran deal
Source and signal
- Internal intake