Marco Rubio says it’s ‘irrelevant’ whether Iran was building nuclear weapons before US strikes

WASHINGTON, DC: Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the US strikes on Iran, stating that it is irrelevant whether intelligence confirmed Iran was actively building nuclear weapons. 

He emphasized that the country already possesses the materials and capabilities needed to construct one, a position that has drawn scrutiny from both domestic officials and international observers, as reported by the New York Post.

His comments, made during an appearance on CBS’ 'Face the Nation' on Sunday, June 22, come amid renewed conflict and just days before planned nuclear negotiations between Iran and Western powers.

Marco Rubio dismisses intel on Iran nukes as ‘irrelevant’

Pressed on whether US intelligence agencies had confirmed active nuclear weapon development by Iran, Marco Rubio responded, “That’s irrelevant.” He argued that Iran’s access to enriched uranium and its fortified facilities, including the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant buried deep underground, indicate clear intentions. 

“Why would you bury things in a mountain 300 feet under the ground?” Rubio asked rhetorically, before adding, “You don’t need 60 percent enriched uranium. The only countries in the world that have uranium at 60 percent are countries that have nuclear weapons.”

Although 90% enrichment is typically the benchmark for weapons-grade uranium, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that enrichment from 60% to 90% can be achieved significantly faster than from lower levels, increasing global concern.

Marco Rubio cites Iran’s history of violence as he rejects trust in diplomatic efforts

Marco Rubio’s firm stance stands in contrast with earlier testimony by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who told Congress that Iran had not resumed its nuclear weapons program since it was suspended in 2003. “

The IC [intelligence community] continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon,” Gabbard said, though she later clarified that her comments were taken out of context and pointed to Iran’s concerning uranium stockpile.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly backed preemptive strikes on Iranian facilities, claiming “absolutely clear” intelligence that Iran is covertly working on weaponizing uranium. The Israeli offensive came shortly before scheduled diplomatic talks, further complicating the global effort for de-escalation.

Addressing skepticism about the potential for diplomacy, Rubio turned the focus to Iran’s past actions, labeling the nation as untrustworthy. “The trust deficit started with Iran,” he said, citing historical instances of Iranian-linked violence against Americans.

“Did they forewarn us before they blew up the embassy in Lebanon and killed over 200 American servicemen? Did they forewarn us before they built IEDs and blew the legs and arms off of American servicemen in Iraq?” Rubio continued, characterizing Iran as a long-standing sponsor of terrorism.

He concluded that the burden of trust does not lie with the UNS but with a regime he described as consistently hostile to American interests.

Donald Trump warns Iran of ‘peace or tragedy’ after US strikes

On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that the US had carried out joint strikes with Israel on three major Iranian nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — calling the mission “very successful.”

He declared the heavily fortified Fordow site “gone” and said US aircraft involved in the mission were already returning. The operation marks a sharp escalation in the regional conflict, as the US formally joins Israel’s military campaign against Iran.

In a brief Oval Office address, Trump warned that Iran faces a choice between “peace or tragedy,” asserting that its key enrichment sites had been “completely and totally obliterated.”

The attack was reportedly conducted using B-2 stealth bombers with bunker-busting bombs and submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles. Trump also dismissed US intelligence claims that Iran wasn’t pursuing nuclear weapons, insisting the threat was real and required action.