‘We Are Dealing With Radical Shiite Clerics’ Driven by ‘Pure Theology’
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was negotiating with Iranian leaders despite what he described as “radical Shiite clerics” making policy decisions based on “pure theology.”
Speaking in Munich, Germany, on Sunday at the annual Munich Security Conference, Rubio addressed questions about U.S. strategy toward Tehran, ongoing diplomatic efforts and the U.S. military posture in the Middle East.
He called the Iranian establishment ideologically motivated, saying: “We are dealing with radical Shiite clerics…people who make geopolitical decisions based on pure theology.” »
He added that past diplomatic efforts with Tehran have proven “complicated,” saying: “No one has ever managed to make a deal with Iran, but we will try.”
Rubio noted that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were traveling for what he described as “important meetings,” adding, “We’ll see how that goes.”
He also stressed that any potential deal would meet U.S. legal requirements.
“We will always follow applicable laws of the United States regarding congressional involvement in any decision,”» Rubio said, adding that “right now we’re not talking about any of that.”
Responding to concerns about U.S. forces in the Middle East, Rubio emphasized that U.S. deployments are defensive in nature.
“We are present in the region for one simple reason: we understand that there could be threats to our forces in the region,” he said. “We’ve seen them come under threat in the past, and we want to make sure we have sufficient capabilities to defend them” if necessary.
He reiterated that the administration’s immediate priority remains diplomacy.
“Right now we are talking about negotiations. We are focusing on negotiations,” he explained. “That’s what we’re focused on. The president has made that clear.”
Rubio added that any change in approach would be transparent and consistent with U.S. law.
“If this changes, it will be obvious to everyone and obviously, whatever the law requires us to do, we will do it,” he said.
The remarks underscore the administration’s dual strategy: displaying an openness to negotiations while maintaining pressure on Iran over its regional activities and nuclear ambitions, backed by a strong military presence intended to deter potential threats.
Reports on Saturday indicate that President Donald Trump’s chief negotiators have warned that concluding a “good” nuclear deal with Tehran is historically “difficult, if not impossible”.
Meanwhile, President Trump said Friday that regime change “would be the best thing that could happen” as he ordered the deployment of additional U.S. forces before talks resume.
As Iran firmly maintains its red lines and Washington increases economic and military pressure, officials say the goal is deterrence above all — and preparation for escalation if necessary.
As tensions persist in the Middle East, Rubio’s remarks underscore that the United States is ready to test its diplomacy once again, even amid deep skepticism about Tehran’s intentions.
Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jklein@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKlein.
