Rubio says Iran 'serious' about making a deal after economy has been 'flattened'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he believes Iranian negotiators are "serious" about coming to a deal with the U.S.
Rubio made the statement during an interview with Fox News' Trey Yingst on Monday, saying the regime's leadership is in tatters and looking to "buy themselves more time."
"I think they are serious about getting themselves out of the mess that they're in, there are all the problems Iran had. They had riots a few months ago, and these were economic riots, all the riots and all the, I'm sorry, all the problems that Iran had before the start of this conflict are still in place and most of them are worse. Price inflation is worse. They still have a drought going on. They still have trouble making payroll. Their economies flattened, they face crippling economic sanctions around the world. All those problems are there and many of them are worse. And now they have half the missiles, none of the factories, and no navy and no air force. All of that's been destroyed. So they're worse off and weaker," Rubio said.
"If there is no deal, what comes next" Yingst asked.
"Well, again, that's the president's decision to make. I would start out by reminding everybody that the level of sanctions on Iran are extraordinary. The pressure on Iran is extraordinary, and I think more can be brought to bear," Rubio responded.
"But I hope that in the aftermath of this conflict, the whole world's eyes have been opened to the threat Iran poses. Again. They want to do with the world, with a nuclear weapon. What they are doing now with oil, they want to hold the world hostage so they can do whatever they want. That's unacceptable," he added.
Marco Rubio on Iran:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 27, 2026
The level of sanctions on Iran is extraordinary, the level of pressure on Iran is extraordinary, and I think more can be brought to bear.pic.twitter.com/LtXB7FpXOa

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