Amid renewed tensions between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed a Senate committee on Thursday on the dilemma of who might lead Iran if its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were removed. Rubio said that forcing regime change in Iran would be far more complicated than in Venezuela and that “no one knows” who would take over if Iran’s leadership fell.
Rubio told lawmakers that Iran’s political system is complex, with power divided between the supreme leader, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and quasi-elected officials, making any clear successor uncertain. “I don’t think anyone can give you a simple answer as to what happens next in Iran if the Supreme Leader and the regime were to fall,” he said.
His remarks followed a stark warning from U.S. President Donald Trump to Tehran, saying that time is running out for a negotiated deal to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and that a “massive armada” led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is heading toward the region to pressure Iran. Trump urged Tehran to come back to the negotiating table and warned that a failure to reach an agreement could result in a military strike “far worse” than previous actions.
Rubio also defended the increased U.S. military presence in the Middle East as a prudent step to protect American servicemen and regional allies, while noting that if Iran were to attack U.S. forces, the United States might act preemptively to prevent harm.
As tensions escalate, Iran has rejected any negotiations under the shadow of military threats, reiterating its right to peaceful nuclear activities and warning it would respond forcefully to any aggression. (Agencies)
