U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on June 2 that Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader who succeeded his father Ali Khamenei after the latter was killed in strikes on February 28, is alive and becoming more involved. Rubio's remarks were made during testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as negotiations to end the Middle East war and global energy crisis have faltered. He expressed optimism for a potential deal, emphasizing Iran's need to significantly curtail its nuclear program, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping without tolls or interference, and cease uranium enrichment to achieve sanctions relief.