Washington, Nov 2026 : US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Iran is interested in reaching an agreement with Washington but continues to demand conditions that the Trump administration considers unacceptable. He also warned that American sanctions are intensifying economic pressure on Tehran, with the impact expected to grow over time.
Speaking to reporters in Paris, Rubio said Iran would welcome a deal but questioned the seriousness of its current demands.
“Iran would love a deal. The problem is, the conditions they continue to place are absurd. They're not even serious. But that could change. Eventually, you have to eat,” he said.
Rubio described the economic pressure on Iran as substantial, arguing that the sanctions were increasingly affecting the country's leadership.
“The economic pain that is being inflicted on Iran right now, on that regime, is extraordinary. It compounds; it's growing every day,” he said, adding that the restrictions would become more painful over time.
The US Secretary of State blamed Iran's leadership for the country's economic difficulties, accusing it of diverting resources towards weapons development and support for regional armed groups rather than public infrastructure and social development.
Referring to the sanctions relief granted during former President Barack Obama's administration, Rubio alleged that Tehran had used the financial benefits to strengthen its military capabilities and arm regional proxies instead of investing in hospitals, roads, bridges and universities.
He also accused Iran of contributing to instability across the Middle East, saying the country's leadership was behind several destabilising activities in the region. However, Rubio distinguished between the Iranian government and its citizens, describing the Iranian people as “great people”.
US Moves Diplomats Away from Potential Threats
Rubio also confirmed that the United States had relocated diplomatic personnel from locations considered vulnerable to security threats overseas.
Asked whether Washington had neutralised a threat against American diplomats flagged by intelligence agencies last month, he said the administration had addressed the situation by moving personnel away from danger.
He said the safety of American employees and their families remained a priority. Whenever a threat crossed a certain threshold, officials reviewed security conditions, staffing levels and the possibility of relocating personnel.
Rubio said the assessment also considered potential regional escalation, including activities by Yemen's Houthi movement and attacks involving Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. He warned that a sudden deterioration in the security situation could leave American personnel stranded if airports were shut.
He said the administration considered not only existing threats but also developments that could emerge in the coming days. Security officials examine facilities, the number of employees and dependants, and available evacuation options before recommending action.
Rubio Comments on Alleged Iranian Cyberattacks in France
The Secretary of State also criticised Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after being asked about cyberattacks that French officials had reportedly attributed to the organisation.
Rubio said French officials had briefed him about their planned announcement but declined to disclose whether Washington had shared intelligence with Paris.
He described the reported activity as consistent with what he called the IRGC's longstanding pattern of terrorism and sabotage operations around the world.
While strongly criticising the organisation, Rubio reiterated that his remarks were directed at Iran's leadership and not its population.
Backs Hegseth Amid Impeachment Move
Rubio also defended US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth when asked about a congressman's move to seek his impeachment over the Iran war.
Praising Hegseth's performance, Rubio claimed that American military operations had significantly weakened Iran's military capabilities, although he acknowledged that Tehran continued to retain some operational capacity.
“They still retain capabilities, obviously, but they are very degraded from where they were a year ago at this time,” he said.
Rubio's comments highlighted the multiple challenges facing Washington in its dealings with Tehran, including stalled diplomatic efforts, the economic impact of sanctions, security concerns involving American diplomatic missions and allegations of Iranian-linked cyber activity in Europe.
He did not disclose the locations from which US personnel had been moved, the number of people affected or details of any intelligence cooperation with France.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
