Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State [AP Yonhap News]

Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, explained on the 30th (local time) that the US is considering deploying ground troops during peace negotiations with Iran as a contingency measure in case the negotiations fail.

In an interview with ABC News on the same day, Rubio stated, "We always prefer to resolve issues through negotiation and diplomacy. However, we must be prepared for the fact that those efforts may fail, and that the regime of 47 years we are dealing with still includes many individuals who do not favor diplomacy or peace."

Regarding President Donald Trump's threat on Truth Social that if negotiations with Iran do not reach an agreement, he would destroy Iran's power plants, oil wells, Kharg Island, and desalination facilities before withdrawing, Rubio said, "The President's first point is that he favors diplomacy."

When asked to specify who the "different people, unlike anyone he has ever dealt with," and "very rational" negotiators are, Rubio replied, "I cannot say who they are. Doing so could create problems with other factions within Iran."

He further criticized the current clerical regime as "religious zealots who should never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons because they have an apocalyptic vision." He added, "If the new people in power now have a more rational vision for the future, that would be good news for us, for the Iranian people, and for the world. But we must prepare for the possibility that they do not."

Regarding President Trump's recent emphasis that negotiations are going very well, with Iran accepting most of the 15 demands presented by the US, despite Iran's denial, Rubio commented, "What they say or reveal to the world does not necessarily reflect what they have told us in our discussions."

He continued, "Clearly, there are people who are talking to us in a way that Iran's previous leaders did not. Of course, they must actually follow through on their promises. We will scrutinize their proposals very carefully."

Addressing the possibility of deploying ground troops, Rubio cited Iran's military buildup and the potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, stating, "If President Trump wants to, there are several options he can choose from to prevent that. Of course, I will not discuss those options or military tactics. However, there is a way to achieve our objectives in a matter of weeks, rather than months."