Tehran, Iran – In an unprecedented message, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Saturday of the difficulty of reaching an agreement with Iran. He affirmed that President Donald Trump is prepared to meet with any Iranian official, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This is not because they agree, but because Trump believes that direct confrontation is sometimes “the way to solve problems in the world.”
This statement comes ahead of a second round of negotiations in Geneva next Tuesday. It also comes amidst extensive US preparations, including the military’s readiness for a potential weeks-long military campaign against Iran should Trump decide to launch one. As a result, tensions between the two sides are escalating to unprecedented levels.
Trump had given Iran roughly a month to reach an agreement on its nuclear program, warning, “Otherwise, very bad things will happen.” The US administration is also concerned about Iran’s ballistic missiles and the armed groups it supports in the region. For its part, the Iranian authorities have emphasized that the missile issue is a matter of sovereignty and is non-negotiable.
Amid this tension, the world awaits the next steps in Geneva. There are also fears that the nuclear negotiations could escalate into open confrontation. The world remains to be seen whether the “language of force” will fail or succeed in imposing peace.
