U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Thursday that while the United States has fulfilled its commitments in agreements with Iran, Tehran has repeatedly violated these deals, incurring significant consequences. He emphasized that Iran tends to break agreements shortly after making them or attempts to alter the terms, which undermines the nature of diplomatic deals.
Rubio noted that Iran is currently facing severe repercussions for its actions and suggested that the country might reconsider its stance in the coming days as these losses continue to mount. He described negotiations with Iran as challenging due to the country’s inconsistent approach to agreements.
Defending President Donald Trump’s firm policy towards Iran, Rubio responded to Iranian officials’ references to an “eye for an eye” approach by characterizing Trump’s stance as “a head for an eye.” He claimed that Iran’s industrial infrastructure is being severely damaged, resulting in billions of dollars in losses, and warned that the pressure on Iran will intensify nightly until Tehran changes its course.
Addressing Iran’s economic potential, Rubio remarked that the nation could become the wealthiest in the Middle East but accused its leadership of diverting resources to support regional armed groups rather than focusing on domestic development. He specifically cited Iran’s backing of Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and various Shia militias. Rubio reiterated that the United States’ primary goal remains the denuclearization of Iran and affirmed that Washington will not permit Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons.
Regarding the conflict in Yemen, Rubio expressed hope that the Houthi movement, which he said is influenced by Iran, would move towards de-escalation. He also described Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner of the United States while discussing a proposed civil nuclear cooperation agreement between Washington and Riyadh. Rubio mentioned that the agreement would soon be presented to the U.S. Congress following an official announcement. He underscored the U.S. preference for countries pursuing peaceful civilian nuclear programs to collaborate with Washington rather than with other nations. Reports indicate that the Trump administration plans to submit the deal to Congress shortly after a preliminary agreement was signed in Riyadh last year.
Earlier, Rubio expressed a desire for a diplomatic resolution with Iran, stating that the U.S. would welcome an agreement in which Iran commits to ending its sponsorship of terrorism and halting its pursuit of nuclear weapons or related technology.
