Rubio torches Iran's leadership as 'fractured' even as the US secretly talks to them
Marco Rubio on Iran:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 30, 2026
There are clearly people there talking to us in ways that previous leaders in Iran have not spoken to us before.
Some of the things they’re saying they’re willing to do — we have to see if they can actually do them.
We have to test that very strongly. pic.twitter.com/E8WvGYWq3r
WASHINGTON, DC: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday, March 30, that “fractures” have emerged within Iran’s leadership, as Washington engages in sensitive, undisclosed negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
Speaking on ABC’s 'Good Morning America', Rubio refused to identify the individuals the United States is engaging with, citing concerns for their safety.
“I’m not going to disclose to you who those people are because it probably would get them in trouble with some other groups of people inside of Iran,” Rubio told host George Stephanopoulos.
Marco Rubio suggests internal divisions in Tehran could change direction
Rubio suggested that shifting dynamics within Iran could open the door to a potential change in direction.
“Look, there’s some fractures going on there internally,” he said. “If there are people in Iran who now, given everything that’s happened, are willing to move in a different direction for their country, that would be great.”
He offered no specifics on the nature of the divisions but indicated that some figures are expressing more conciliatory positions in private discussions with US officials.
Marco Rubio highlights gap between private and public messaging
According to Rubio, there is a disconnect between what Iranian interlocutors say behind closed doors and their public rhetoric.
“They’re saying some of the right things privately,” he noted, adding that public statements do not necessarily reflect the tone of ongoing talks.
However, Rubio cautioned that it remains unclear whether those engaging with Washington hold real authority within Iran’s power structure.
“We have to see if these people end up being the ones in charge… if they’re the ones that have the power to deliver,” he said, stressing that the US would “test” their credibility.
Trump escalates pressure and claims talks with new regime
The comments come after Donald Trump suggested in a social media post that the US is negotiating with a “new, and more reasonable, regime” in Iran.
Trump also issued a stark warning, saying that if Tehran fails to reach a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the United States could escalate militarily.
He threatened that Washington could “blow up and completely obliterate” Iran’s electric plants, oil infrastructure, and key facilities, underscoring the high stakes surrounding the Gulf.
