Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism on Wednesday that internal pressure within Iran could lead to a change in the radical Islamist regime. He highlighted the stark contrast between the Iranian people and the clerics in power, hinting at the possibility of the United States engaging in dialogue with Tehran.
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Rubio emphasized, “I know of no other country where there’s a bigger difference between the people that lead the country and the people who live there.” He suggested that the Trump administration’s optimism lies in this disparity.
Despite US forces shooting down an Iranian drone on Tuesday, Rubio mentioned that the US remains open to diplomatic discussions. Scheduled talks on Friday with US envoy Steve Witkoff are contingent on Tehran’s participation.
Rubio affirmed, “The United States is prepared to meet with them,” acknowledging Iran’s previous interest in dialogue. He added, “If the Iranians want to meet, we’re ready. They’ve expressed an interest in meeting and talking.”
While uncertain about the possibility of reaching an agreement with the Iranian leadership, Rubio stated, “I’m not sure you can reach a deal with these guys, but we’re going to try to find out.”
