US Secretary of State names main issue in relations with Iran

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the nuclear issue and Iran's desire to expand its influence in the Middle East region are the main problems concerning Washington.

"The nuclear issue is the reason we are dealing with this in the first place. If Iran were just a radical country run by radical people, it would still be a problem. (...) Essentially, they seek to expand and export their revolution (...) - that's why they are with Hezbollah in Lebanon, that's why they supported Hamas, that's why they supported militias in Iraq. They aim not just to dominate Iran, but to dominate the region."

(...) "Imagine if these same people had access to nuclear weapons. They would hold the entire region hostage," Rubio said in an interview with Fox News.

According to the head of the State Department, Tehran currently "does not have half of its missiles," so it is in a weak position.

Responding to a journalist's question about US measures in case of failure to reach an agreement with Iran, Rubio stated that the main approach would be to increase pressure on Tehran.

"The level of sanctions against Iran is extraordinary, the pressure on Iran is extraordinary, and I think even more can be done," he said.

Rubio stated that the US believes Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive, but there are doubts about whether "he enjoys the same trust as his father."

"We don't know the answers to these questions, but I definitely think something is wrong in their system, which makes it difficult to negotiate with them right now," the diplomat added.

Source: Interfax