U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Iran is now willing to negotiate because it has lost the protective umbrella it once hid behind, and that the United States is dealing with Tehran from a position of strength. Rubio's remarks, reported by Israeli journalist Mordechi K, follow a period of heightened military tensions and diplomatic brinkmanship between Washington and Tehran.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Sunday that Iran's willingness to negotiate stems from the loss of its protective umbrella, which he said Tehran could once hide behind. 'They still have missiles and drones, and they can still cause damage, but they no longer have the same protective umbrella,' Rubio was quoted as saying. 'That is the only reason they are now willing to conduct talks. We are dealing with them now from a position of strength, not weakness.'
The remarks come against the backdrop of a prolonged U.S.-Iran diplomatic standoff, in which President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military action while keeping the door open for a negotiated settlement. As The Zioneer has reported over the past weeks, Trump has on several occasions called off or delayed potential strikes on Iranian targets, including an overnight operation last Saturday, in order to test Tehran's willingness to return to negotiations. Israeli officials have expressed skepticism about the prospects of a durable deal, but Rubio's framing suggests the administration sees progress.
Rubio also criticized the international community's past tolerance of Iranian violations, saying Tehran 'got used to the fact that not only in the United States, but throughout the world, they were allowed to behave in ways like lying and violating agreements.' The statement did not specify a timeline for talks or provide details on the status of any memorandum of understanding.
- DevelopingRubio: Iran signaling willingness for negotiations
- DevelopingRubio: Tehran has lost significant portion of defensive systems, still holds missiles and drones
- StrongRubio: Iran 'begs every day for a deal' but then flips, will pay a price
- DevelopingRubio: US negotiating with Iran's pragmatists, but radical clerics still hold power
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