'We're not aligned': Rubio gives blunt answer when asked about Russia and Iran

WASHINGTON, DC: Secretary of State Marco Rubio drew a clear line between Washington and Moscow when asked about Russia’s support for Iran, saying Russian assistance would not impede US objectives.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Moscow was supplying Iran with “the necessary goods” during the war.

Rubio made the comments on Wednesday, September 2, on ‘The Brian Kilmeade Show’ after Kilmeade cited Putin’s remarks and pressed him about Russia helping Tehran.

Marco Rubio rejects Russia as an obstacle

Rubio said the United States is not aligned with Russia over Iran’s actions but argued Moscow’s support would not limit Washington’s ability to act.

“Nothing that anyone is providing Iran is in any way impeding our ability to act as necessary to protect the United States,” Rubio said.

He acknowledged that Russia’s position differs from Washington’s, saying, “in the case of what Iran is doing, we are not necessarily fully aligned with the Russian position on it.”

Rubio also pointed to Russia’s war with Ukraine as a competing focus for Putin. “Russia’s got, you know, and Putin’s got his own set of problems that I think take up the majority of his time and focus,” he said.

Rubio specifically cited “the war with Ukraine” and the effects of Ukrainian strikes on the Russian economy, alongside sanctions.

Vladimir Putin says Russia is supplying Iran

The exchange came after The New York Times reported that Putin reaffirmed Russia’s support for Iran during a summit in Kyrgyzstan.

“During this difficult time, we are trying to provide you with the assistance you need,” Putin told Pezeshkian in Bishkek, according to the report. “We have discussed this with you and are supplying you with the necessary goods.”

Kilmeade then read the statement to Rubio and framed the issue directly: “now we have the Russians saying directly, ‘We’re helping you out.’”

The report described explicit Russian assistance, while Rubio emphasized that it did not prevent the United States from pursuing its objectives.

New reports detail Russia's role and US strategy

Rubio’s interview also came the same day the Financial Times published a report saying Russia was helping Iran develop supersonic missiles.

That followed another report, two weeks earlier, that Russia was providing Iran with shipments of ammunition and drone parts. It also described a broader US policy focused on pressure rather than new strikes for the time being. 

Axios reported that Rubio had told several foreign counterparts the United States was not expected to initiate new strikes against Iran, while leaving open the possibility of strikes if Iran attacked first.

The policy described in that report included increasing economic pressure through a naval blockade and new Treasury Department sanctions, as well as moving as much oil as possible through the Strait of Hormuz.

A US official said the clearing of mines from most of the Strait and increased tanker traffic through its southern lane had reduced Iran’s leverage over global energy markets.

“Right now, we are not negotiating with Iran. We are squeezing them. The pressure could drive the Iranians back to the table,” the official said.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said, “The president has been clear that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and that he will use the tools necessary to ensure that objective is accomplished.”