Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been at the center of the unfolding U.S. conflict with Iran over the past few days. On March 4, Rubio walked back his earlier comments suggesting Israel was set to strike Iran first, prompting U.S. involvement to avoid higher casualties. According to CBS News reporter Caitlin Huey Burns, Rubio had told Congress that an Israeli action would lead Iran to target American forces immediately, but after President Trump contradicted him, Rubio insisted the U.S. acted preemptively on its own to dismantle Iran's ballistic missile program and drones. CBS News reports Rubio clarified that the president decided Iran could not hide behind those capabilities.
Rubio strongly defended the strikes in remarks to Fox News, calling Iran's leaders religious fanatic lunatics with nuclear ambitions. Fox News quotes him saying in simple English that now is the weakest Iran has ever been, making it the right time to act before they obtain a nuclear weapon. He emphasized the operation targets military assets, not regime change, and predicted a safer world without Iran's access to those weapons.
Amid the fighting, Rubio is managing a chaotic evacuation effort. NPR reports he has drawn down staff at U.S. embassies and consulates across the Middle East, including closures in Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia after Iranian drone and missile attacks damaged sites like the embassy in Saudi Arabia and consulate in Dubai. Americans like teacher Eric Kumbier in Qatar have struggled with shifting State Department guidance from shelter in place to evacuate now, with hotline issues and closed airspaces complicating exits. Rubio defended the response, noting challenges like planes turning back mid-flight, and announced options including charter flights, military transports, land routes, and an online registration forum. ABC News states about 1,500 Americans are seeking help to leave, as Rubio held calls with foreign ministers in Turkey, Cyprus, and Italy to reaffirm partnerships and condemn attacks on allies.
The Senate is voting on a war powers resolution requiring congressional approval for further action, though passage seems unlikely. Six U.S. service members have died in Iranian counterattacks.
Thank you for tuning in, listeners. Please subscribe for more updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
For more http://www.quietplease.ai
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI