By Jerald Jimenez
Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected Iran’s recent peace offer, believing it does not meet the Trump administration’s fundamental demands.
In an interview with Fox News on Monday, he pointed out that the Iranian proposal avoids nuclear disarmament, a non-negotiable point for the US government after three months of armed conflict: “The nuclear issue is the predominant reason why we are in this.”
The map of Iran proposes a reduction of the military succor watch over in the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the United States lifting the current economic blockadetwo US officials tell ABC News.
However, the document suggests postponing negotiations on the nuclear program to an undefined date.
Dispute over traffic in the Strait of Hormuz
Likewise, another point of friction is the collection of tolls and the management of the Strait of Hormuz. The United States maintains that it will not accept Iran maintaining authority over this strategic trade route.
“These are international navigable waterways. They cannot normalize, nor can we tolerate them trying to normalize, a system in which the Iranians decide who can use an international waterway and how much they have to be paid to use it.“ Rubio emphasized.
Uncertainty over Iran’s leadership
Rubio also questioned the current authority of the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and the fragmentation of factions in Tehran, calling into question Iran’s ability to comply with international agreements due to that country’s internal factions.
“We have indications that yes (he is alive). Obviously, they claim that he is. We have no evidence that he is not,” Rubio added. “I think being alive and being in power are two different things. You can be alive, but I think the unresolved question here is whether you have the same credibility that your father had.”
Finally, the Secretary suggested that the proposal might lack internal validity, stating that there are still doubts about whether the person who presented it had the authority to do so, although he acknowledged that the Iranians “are serious about getting out of the mess they are in.”
Keep reading:
– Iran’s parliament assures that the US has no choice but to accept its conditions
– Trump cancels trip to Pakistan of special envoys for negotiations with Iran
– Iran makes new offer to the US for nuclear dialogue and reopening the Strait of Hormuz