US Secretary of State: US Strikes Have Made Iran More Willing to Negotiate

Odaily News, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with Fox News that, as a result of Washington's military strikes, Iran is now more willing to negotiate on issues including its nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio reiterated that the US strikes destroyed Iran's navy, air force, missile defense systems, launch devices, and weapons production facilities, and "severely weakened" its defensive capabilities. "They still have missiles and drones, and they can still cause damage," Rubio said. But he claimed that Iran no longer possesses "the conventional shield they once intended to hide behind." "This has changed the entire landscape. That is the only reason they are now willing—and in some cases even seem eager—to reach an agreement on denuclearization and an agreement on the Strait. Because we are now dealing with them from a position of strength, not weakness," he said. (Jin Shi)