Rubio on Iran's Reaction to Trump's Letter: We Have Only Received What Khamenei Has Publicly Stated

Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, emphasized the distinction between public statements and the behind-the-scenes tendencies of the Islamic Republic regarding sensitive issues, referring to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's negative reaction to Donald Trump's letter. In response to Khamenei's remarks that Iran will not negotiate with the Trump administration under pressure, Rubio stated, 'We have only received what the Ayatollah has publicly said from Tehran.' On Saturday, March 9, Khamenei claimed without providing any evidence that the U.S. aims to impose 'new expectations' through a potential negotiation proposal, asserting that these expectations 'will certainly not be met by [the Islamic Republic] Iran.' Rubio, who was heading to Saudi Arabia on Monday, March 11, for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, noted the sensitivity of negotiations with the U.S. and the historical reactions of the Iranian government in similar cases, stating, 'It is clear that what individuals publicly express in such matters differs from their potential readiness to act in secrecy.' The U.S. Secretary of State reiterated Donald Trump's explicit position on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Rubio considered the 'opportunity' presented by Trump to the Islamic Republic as a way to prevent escalation, saying, 'We need to see if they will take advantage of this opportunity or not.' According to this senior U.S. diplomat, Trump has always preferred peace over war and conflict, a point he has demonstrated during his first term and currently. He promised that the Islamic Republic would not obtain nuclear weapons. Trump has declared that reaching an agreement or military confrontation are the only options available to the Islamic Republic regarding the nuclear issue. The U.S. President has expressed willingness to negotiate and reach an agreement with the Islamic Republic while emphasizing America's commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Since returning to the White House, Trump has revived the 'maximum pressure' policy and called for a comprehensive agreement with the Islamic Republic. However, Khamenei has declared any negotiations with the U.S. as forbidden.