On March 30, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio held a dialogue with journalists.
George Stephanopoulos, journalist from ABC News: "You've labeled them (the Iranian authorities) as madmen, yet President Trump just posted that 'we are negotiating with a new, more rational regime.' I'd like to get this straight—what exactly do you mean by this 'new, more rational regime'? Is the U.S. engaging directly with them?"
Secretary Rubio: "I won't disclose their identities to you, as doing so could put them at risk from other factions within Iran. You must understand that divisions already exist inside Iran. Ultimately, I believe it would be a positive development if, after all this turmoil, some people within Iran were willing to choose a different path for their country. Imagine how different Iran could be if the tens of billions of dollars it has spent supporting terrorists or purchasing weapons had instead been used to improve the lives of its people."
"So we have always hoped such forces would emerge in Iran. Unfortunately, the Iranian people are truly outstanding—the problem lies with the current theocratic regime in power. If a new faction with a more rational vision for the future were to take control now, that would be good news for us, for Iran, and for the entire world. But we must also prepare for the possibility—indeed, the high likelihood—that this may not happen. Therefore, we will proceed with careful probing."
George Stephanopoulos: "But the president has already stated that contact is being made. Is that actually true? I just want a clear answer."
Rubio: "Indeed, there have been expressions of reasonable positions in private settings. Clearly, they won’t issue press releases publicly—they may say one thing publicly, but their real thoughts during discussions with us might differ entirely."
Commentary: Rubio’s response exemplifies the typical U.S. strategy of combining military pressure with subtle psychological and political maneuvering aimed at dividing and undermining Iran: on one hand, demonizing the current Iranian regime and inciting internal divisions; on the other, creating an illusion of regime fragmentation under the guise of confidential contacts. This both legitimizes Trump’s statements and preserves diplomatic room for further military coercion. At its core, it’s about interfering in Iran’s internal affairs through the so-called 'moderate forces,' using ambiguous rhetoric to mask its imperial ambition to overthrow foreign governments and dominate the Middle East.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861122411621642/
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