US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was wounded in US-Israeli attacks and has not been seen publicly since assuming office, is alive and becoming increasingly active.
“I think there are indications out there that he is increasingly engaging at some level,” Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, succeeded his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the first wave of US-Israeli strikes that launched the war on February 28.
Rubio spoke before the Senate panel as talks aimed at ending the three-month-old war that has engulfed the Middle East and triggered a global energy crisis appeared to have stalled.
Rubio expressed hope for a deal with Iran while insisting that Tehran must significantly limit its nuclear programme to secure sanctions relief.
“There is the prospect before us, which could happen today, it could happen tomorrow, it could happen next week,” Rubio said.
Rubio also said Tehran must agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for Gulf oil and gas.
“They have to announce very clearly, ‘The straits are now open, we’re not charging a toll.’ We will help remove the mines that they put in there, and they will not fire on ships.”
He further stated: “They have to agree on negotiating severe and long-term limitations and/or cancellation of enrichment activity.”
Rubio continued: “Iran is being sanctioned because they’ve highly enriched uranium. Iran is being sanctioned because of their nuclear activities. If they agree to give up those things, there will be sanctions relief.”