U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified America's demands regarding South Korea and Iran during a congressional hearing. He stated that issues surrounding the treatment of U.S. companies in South Korea have impacted trade discussions. For Iran, he set the condition of abandoning its nuclear program for any sanctions relief.
During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on June 3, Rubio addressed concerns about discrimination against U.S. companies in South Korea, calling it "one of the factors we deal with in our relationship with Korea." Republican Representative Darrell Issa claimed that South Korea is pressuring U.S. companies like Meta and Coupang.
Rubio acknowledged that this issue has affected the completion of trade agreements with South Korea, attributing it to "certain attitudes toward U.S. companies." He noted that regulatory challenges for U.S. tech firms are not unique to South Korea, adding that American companies face difficulties in Europe as well, making it a broader trade issue.
Rubio distanced himself from South Korea's political situation. When Issa suggested that South Korean democracy is shifting left and opening more avenues for China, Rubio responded that he respects the sovereign choices of the people, as long as their leaders are elected through legitimate elections. He emphasized that the U.S. does not seek to overthrow or remove governments that take positions contrary to American interests.
Regarding security on the Korean Peninsula, Rubio confirmed that there would be no changes to the U.S. defense posture. When asked by Democratic Representative Ami Bera about the U.S. response to North Korean nuclear threats, Rubio stated, "The U.S. posture remains unchanged." He clarified that the U.S. is not looking to provoke a crisis or engage in war, maintaining a strong working relationship with South Korea.
On the issue of Iran, Rubio addressed conditions for sanctions relief related to its nuclear program. According to reports from Reuters and others, he denied claims that the U.S. proposed easing sanctions in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He stated, "For sanctions relief to be considered, Iran must abandon its enrichment of uranium and nuclear activities."
Rubio explained that Iran is under sanctions due to its nuclear activities and that if it complies and fulfills agreements, sanctions relief could follow. While reopening the Strait of Hormuz could be a topic for negotiation, he emphasized that the direct condition for sanctions relief is the nuclear issue.
He also indicated that any nuclear-related agreements would undergo congressional review, stating, "I will submit any relevant agreements to Congress in accordance with the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA) established in 2015."
Rubio provided a critical assessment of Iran's military and economic conditions, claiming that Iran's naval, air, air defense, and missile capabilities have been significantly impacted following military operations by the U.S. and Israel. He noted that Iran is also facing hyperinflation, currency devaluation, and fiscal pressures.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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