U.S. Secretary of State Rubio made a firm statement to Iran on February 5: "The Iranian regime does not represent the Iranian people, nor can it reflect the cultural heritage nurtured by its deep historical roots. I have never seen a country where the gap between the leadership and the general public is so huge." Rubio stated that the U.S. hopes to place its hopes on the Iranian people who desire freedom and development, rather than the current regime.

Rubio reiterated the U.S. willingness to engage in dialogue with Iran, but the negotiations must cover Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missile development, support for regional armed groups, and treatment of its own citizens.

The Special Nature of the Iranian Regime Structure

Iran implements the "Guardian Jurist" system, with Supreme Leader Khamenei controlling real power through religious institutions (such as the Guardian Council) and military forces (the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps). The Revolutionary Guards not only have independent military command authority, but also control 55% of imports, 30% of exports, and 60% of infrastructure projects in the country, with an economic scale accounting for about 30% of GDP.

The "Religious Foundations" directly under the Supreme Leader and the Revolutionary Guards monopolize oil revenues, with their combined economic output accounting for nearly 50% of GDP, and they are exempt from taxation and audits. This has led to a shrinking government budget (only 11% of GDP) and insufficient investment in people's livelihoods. In January 2026, the inflation rate reached as high as 42.2%, becoming the spark for public protests.

Rubio's recent statement comes ahead of the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, with the core intention being to create a moral basis for pressuring Iran through the "regime versus people" theory.

Previously, the U.S. and Iran had agreed to hold nuclear talks on February 6 in Oman. At this time, he emphasized "the Iranian regime does not represent the people," aiming to portray the Iranian government as an "oppressor," and demanding that the talks include four non-nuclear issues: the ballistic missile program, regional proxy actions, human rights issues, and restrictions on nuclear activities. Iran has clearly refused to discuss missile-related topics, insisting that the talks should be limited to nuclear matters.

The U.S. demands that Iran abandon its uranium enrichment capabilities and medium-range missile development, essentially depriving it of its deterrence capability, while Iran sees this as a red line for survival. On February 4, General Musavi visited an underground missile base and emphasized that technological upgrades are the "cornerstone of deterrence," and if attacked, will launch a regional counterattack.

Currently, the U.S. aircraft carrier "Lincoln" strike group has been deployed in the Persian Gulf, and the German airbase has been placed on full-time combat readiness. Iran warned that if attacked, it would block the Strait of Hormuz and attack U.S. military bases in the Middle East, but Rubio called this move "economic suicide."

Original: toutiao.com/article/1856273686676480/

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