Rubio highlighted the complexity of negotiations with Iran and the threats to the US
Incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was attending a White House Correspondents’ Dinner when shots were fired outside the hall. He said he did not hear the shots themselves, but saw security personnel rush into the room.
Rubio noted that his first reaction was to ask whether there was a threat inside the hall or whether the incident was taking place outside. He also said that security services acted in accordance with protocol and attempted to evacuate President Donald Trump from the scene.
After that, Rubio, along with other officials, went to the White House. There, they checked whether the continuity of government was assured. According to him, the President, Vice-President and Speaker were safe.
The question of whether to continue with the dinner was also discussed. Rubio said that Trump wanted to return to the event, but it was ultimately decided to postpone it for 30 days, as re-screening everyone present would have taken several hours.
Negotiations with Iran
Commenting on the situation with Iran, Rubio stated that a ceasefire is currently in place, but the question of a possible resumption of the conflict remains. He said that the US is closely monitoring threats from the Iranian regime against American officials.
According to Rubio, the main obstacle to an agreement with Iran lies in internal divisions within the Iranian power structure itself. He stated that there are various groups of hardline supporters of the regime in Iran, some of whom take the country’s economic needs into account, whilst others are driven by religious motives.
Rubio also noted that negotiations are complicated by the question of the actual power held by the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. According to him, the US has indications that he is alive, but the question is whether he has sufficient authority and whether he makes decisions independently.
The Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear programme
Marco Rubio confirmed that Iran had submitted a new proposal, which Washington considers better than expected. At the same time, he stressed that the US would not discuss its details through the media.
According to the Secretary of State, the issue of opening the Strait of Hormuz depends on the details. He stated that the US would not agree to a model under which Iran alone would determine who could use the international waterway and under what conditions.
Rubio stressed that the nuclear issue remains the main cause of the current standoff. He stated that Iran seeks to expand its influence in the region through Hezbollah, Hamas and Shia groups in Iraq, and that the possession of nuclear weapons would make this threat significantly more serious.
The possibility of new sanctions and pressure on the regime
The Secretary of State said that Iran is seriously seeking a way out of the current situation, as it faces economic problems, inflation, drought, payment difficulties and the pressure of sanctions.
At the same time, he stated that the US must not allow Iran to use the negotiations merely to buy time. According to him, any agreement must definitively prevent Iran from rapidly advancing towards the creation of nuclear weapons.
Rubio also noted that in the absence of an agreement, the decision on further action would be taken by the president. He added that pressure on Iran is already significant, but could be intensified.
Lebanon and Hezbollah
Speaking about Lebanon, the Secretary of State stated that Israel has no territorial claims on that country. According to him, Israel’s problem lies not with Lebanon, but with Hezbollah, which operates from Lebanese territory.
He said that the US aim is to strengthen the Lebanese armed forces so that they can disarm and dismantle Hezbollah’s structures. Rubio emphasised that Israel has the right to take defensive action in the event of a threat of attack.
When asked about the possibility of Lebanon joining the Abraham Accords, he replied that this was still a long way off. According to him, Lebanon must first establish a unified government and a unified armed forces under state control.
The Gaza Strip and Hamas
Rubio stated that any agreement regarding Gaza depends on the disarmament and demilitarisation of Hamas. He said that there had been some positive signals in recent days, particularly involving Egypt and Turkey.
At the same time, he emphasised that without the demilitarisation of Hamas, the entire process remains in doubt. The Secretary of State said that the US wants to avoid a resumption of hostilities and envisages a future for Gaza under the control of Palestinian security forces, supported by international forces.
Cuba
Rubio described Cuba as a “failed state” and stated that its population lives in difficult conditions without political freedoms. He also said that Cuba has become a platform for the activities of the US’s adversaries and rivals, notably China and Russia.
According to Marco Rubio, the US will not allow foreign military, intelligence or security agencies to operate with impunity in Cuba, which is located close to the American coast.
China and artificial intelligence
In conclusion, Rubio commented on the State Department’s warning regarding China’s attempts to steal American intellectual property in the field of artificial intelligence.
The Secretary of State stated that this poses both an economic and a security threat. According to him, these technologies are closely linked to US defence capabilities, so Washington cannot ignore such actions, even whilst seeking stable relations with China.
