Video: Iran’s clerics make nuclear deal hard due to radical theology— Rubio
Abdullateef Fowewe
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has tempered expectations for a new nuclear agreement with Iran on Monday, stressing the unique barriers posed by its theocratic leadership.
“Doing a deal with Iran is not easy,” Rubio said during remarks in Budapest, where renewed US-Iran talks are underway.
“I said it yesterday, I’ll repeat it again today. We have to understand that Iran ultimately is governed, and its decisions are governed, by Shia clerics, radical Shia clerics. These people make policy decisions on the basis of pure theology.
“That’s how they make their decisions. So it’s hard to do a deal with Iran. We’ve always said it’s hard, but we’re going to try,” he added.
The comments echo Rubio’s earlier February statement doubting a deal’s feasibility and highlight ideological challenges in negotiations.
Iran has signaled willingness for compromises, offering sanctions relief in exchange for limits on its nuclear program—potentially extending to deals in energy, mining, and aircraft sectors.
