Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated during a U.S. Senate hearing that the future of Iran would be 'uncertain and very complex' if the Supreme Leader were to step down, and there are no simple answers for the next phase.

Rubio explained that the power structure in the Islamic Republic is based on two main pillars: the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an institution that directly answers to the Leader. He added that alongside this structure, there are so-called semi-elected officials who, although visible in the public and political arena, ultimately must coordinate all their decisions and actions with the Supreme Leader.

The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized that in the event of the collapse of this regime, no one can definitively say who will take power or how the transition will unfold. He expressed hope that if such a scenario were to occur, there would be a possibility for some form of transition from within the existing structures.

Rubio further warned that any fundamental change in Iran would be far more complex than similar cases, as the Islamic Republic has been in power for decades. He stated that such a situation would require 'very careful thinking and cautious planning' if one day this scenario were to become a reality.

Rubio also pointed out that regimes like Iran have learned that shooting at protesters through snipers can be effective. However, he stressed that the regime is in its weakest position, and the main issue is that the government is unable to respond to the demands of the Iranian people.

He attributed the current situation to Iran's economic collapse and the regime's preference for spending the country's resources on military weapons and supporting terrorist groups instead of investing in society. Rubio noted that while the flames of protests may have currently subsided, due to the regime's unwillingness to change its behavior and lift sanctions, these protests will flare up again in the future. He stated: 'The demands of the Iranian people are legitimate and enduring, and as long as this regime does not want to change or step down from power, there will be no way to resolve the crises.'

Marco Rubio also warned during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that the presence of 30,000 to 40,000 U.S. troops in the region is within the range of thousands of ballistic missiles and suicide drones of the Islamic Republic. He emphasized that this threat is not a theoretical discussion but a 'dangerous reality' that requires a decisive response.

Rubio clarified that Donald Trump reserves the right to use the option of 'preemptive defense' to protect the lives of American soldiers and the security of allies such as Israel. He stated: 'If we have evidence of an imminent attack from Iran, we will take preemptive action to prevent harm to our personnel.'

In response to a question about the U.S. State Department's estimate of the number of casualties in the protests in Iran, Rubio said: 'Certainly in the thousands.'

The U.S. Secretary of State also discussed Washington's actions in Venezuela, including the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, the ousted president, stating: 'For the first time in 20 years, serious discussions are underway about weakening and even eliminating the presence of Iran, the influence of China, and also the presence of Russia in Venezuela.' He told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Maduro must be removed from power, as Venezuela has become a base for operations by U.S. adversaries, including China, Russia, and Iran.