Politics · United States · 4 hrs ago
Rubio defends Iran war as necessary despite its unpopularity
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, saying it was needed to stop Tehran from pursuing a nuclear weapon.
The conflict has lasted more than eight months, and Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful.
The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, below the 90% level used for weapons-grade uranium.
The war’s unpopularity and higher energy prices contributed to Republican losses in the US midterm elections, which gave Democrats control of Congress.
Vice President JD Vance blamed the war for the losses, while Trump said he did not regret starting it.
US-Iran talks have made little progress, Rubio said, as Iran reviews proposals from mediator Qatar and seeks conditions for a ceasefire.
Trump says renewed US strikes are highly unlikely if negotiations progress and produce a strong agreement.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, calling it necessary to address what he described as a nuclear threat.
Rubio acknowledged the war was not necessarily popular, as Republicans suffered major losses in the midterm elections.
He said negotiations with Iran had made little progress and described Tehran’s demands as unacceptable and unrealistic.
Trump said he did not regret the decision to go to war and said further U.S. strikes were unlikely if negotiations progressed and produced a strong agreement.
Iran has said its nuclear programme is peaceful and has set conditions for a ceasefire and renewed diplomacy.
- Who
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the war launched by President Donald Trump. Iran and the United States are involved in negotiations.
- What
- Rubio said the war was necessary to address Iran’s nuclear threat, despite its unpopularity. He said talks had not produced a breakthrough.
- When
- Rubio made the comments on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
- Where
- Rubio spoke to reporters in Florida.
- Why
- Rubio said Trump acted to stop Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon. Iran has said its nuclear programme is peaceful.
U.S. administration
Iran
Reason for war
U.S. administration
Rubio said Trump acted against a real national security threat and to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Iran
Iran has maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Negotiations
U.S. administration
Rubio said Iran’s demands were unacceptable and unrealistic, and that talks had not been very productive.
Iran
Iran has set conditions for a ceasefire, including ending the war on all fronts.
Possible next steps
U.S. administration
Trump said renewed U.S. strikes were highly unlikely if talks made progress and produced a strong agreement.
Iran
Iran said the United States could meet its conditions or choose war.
Trump launched the war against Iran, which Rubio defended as necessary to address a nuclear threat.
U.S. midterm elections delivered major losses for Republicans, with the war cited as one factor.
The U.S. military launched a task force aimed at disrupting Iran’s weapons shipments and illicit trade, according to Fox News.
Rubio defended the war in comments to reporters in Florida and said negotiations with Iran had not reached a breakthrough.
- Rubio’s role
- U.S. secretary of state
- War’s stated aim
- Prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon
- Uranium stockpile
- 440.9 kilograms enriched up to 60%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency
- Strait of Hormuz
- One-fifth of the world’s oil transited the waterway before the war
- Iran’s ceasefire conditions
- Include ending the war on all fronts, according to Iran’s foreign minister
4 sources
Rubio defends Trump's Iran war as not 'necessarily popular, but necessary'
Rubio says war on Iran unpopular but 'necessary' to stop nuclear threat
Rubio says Trump's war against Iran not 'necessarily popular' but needed to stop a nuclear threat
Rubio says Iran war isn't 'necessarily popular' but needed
What people are saying
I wouldn’t say we’re at the verge of a breakthrough
He addressed it even though oftentimes the right thing to do for the country — confronting difficult challenges for the security of our country — doing it isn’t necessarily popular, but necessary
Because if they ever had a nuclear weapon, they would blow up the world.
American voters have made their choice