MUNICH: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that President Donald Trump is actively seeking a diplomatic resolution with Iran and is prepared to meet with the nation’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, without preconditions.
In a statement released Saturday, Secretary Rubio emphasized the Trump administration’s willingness to engage in direct dialogue, even with longstanding adversaries.
“President Trump wants a deal with Iran,” Rubio said, acknowledging the significant challenges that lie ahead. “He is ready to meet with anyone for the sake of peace. If Supreme Leader Khamenei wants to meet, President Trump is ready. The President does not view such a meeting as a concession, but as a necessary part of pursuing peace.”
The remarks signal a potential shift toward direct, high-level engagement, despite decades of estrangement between the two nations and ongoing tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence. Rubio’s comments suggest the administration is willing to bypass traditional diplomatic channels in favor of direct dialogue at the highest level.
In a separate but related discussion on global conflicts, Secretary Rubio also addressed the ongoing war in Ukraine, characterizing the conflict as a tragic and pointless drain on both nations involved.
“This war is meaningless,” Rubio stated. “Both sides are suffering serious losses—in terms of lives, treasure, and global standing. We will continue to try to end this war. Our hope is that negotiations will be fruitful and bring this unnecessary suffering to a close.”
The Secretary did not provide specific details on the proposed format for either the potential US-Iran talks or the negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. His comments, however, underscore a foreign policy approach under President Trump that prioritizes direct presidential engagement and a desire to extricate the US from prolonged international conflicts.
