Secretary of State Marco Rubio Discusses U.S.-Israel Strikes on Iran Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed reporters ahead of a meeting with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill, detailing the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran. The operation, conducted over the weekend, resulted in the deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his wife, and several senior military officials. Rubio emphasized the strategic rationale behind the strikes, framing them as a response to Iran’s growing missile capabilities and its efforts to develop a shield for its nuclear program. Rubio stated that the operation aimed to neutralize Iran’s short-range ballistic missile threat, which he described as a critical security risk. He highlighted Iran’s long-term strategy to build a conventional weapons arsenal, including thousands of drones and missiles, to create a deterrent against potential attacks. This, he argued, would allow Iran to operate with impunity, using its nuclear ambitions as a bargaining chip. “They are trying to put themselves in a position of immunity,” Rubio said, noting that Iran’s missile stockpile could eventually overwhelm defensive systems. The strikes, Rubio explained, were preemptive, driven by intelligence assessments that Iran would retaliate against U.S. or Israeli forces. He cited the rapid activation of Iran’s missile forces within hours of the initial attack, underscoring the urgency of the operation. “We knew an attack was coming, and if we didn’t act first, we would have suffered higher casualties,” he said. Rubio also addressed concerns about the operation’s legality, clarifying that the U.S. had notified Congress 48 hours in advance as required by law. While he acknowledged the difficulty of informing all 535 members of Congress, he emphasized compliance with legal protocols.#supreme_leader #iran #marco_rubio #ayatollah_ali_khamenei #secretary_of_state
