Rubio claims that the US strike has made Iran more willing to negotiate

On 2 August, in an interview with Fox News, United States Secretary of State Rubio stated that Iran was now more willing to negotiate issues, including its nuclear programme and the Strait of Hormuz, as a result of the military strike in Washington. Rubio reiterated that the United States strike had destroyed Iran's naval, air force, missile defence systems, launchers and weapons production facilities and had “seriously weakened” its defence capabilities. “They still possess missiles and drones and can still cause damage”, Rubio says. He claims, however, that Iran no longer possesses “conventional shields which they had intended to hide behind”. “This changes the pattern. That is the only reason they are now willing — and in some cases even seemingly eager — to reach an agreement on denuclearization and an agreement on the Strait. Because we now deal with them from a position of power, not a position of vulnerability, he said。