Rubio says Iran war necessary despite unpopularity

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 9 Nov, 11:42 · Archive

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the war on Iran was necessary to stop nuclear threats, though he sees little hope of diplomatic breakthrough.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the war on Iran as necessary to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, even as he acknowledged it remains unpopular. Speaking to reporters in Florida on Sunday, Rubio said President Trump had 'identified a very real threat' and that addressing such challenges for national security is 'not necessarily popular, but necessary'.

On negotiations, Rubio said the two sides remain far apart. Iran had proposed shortening the timetable for restarting talks from seven days to two, but Rubio dismissed Iranian demands as 'not just unacceptable, but in some cases, outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic'. He stated: 'I wouldn't say we're on the verge of a breakthrough.' Trump told CNN on Sunday that further strikes were 'highly unlikely' if negotiations progressed towards a strong agreement on nuclear constraints and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that Tehran wants US sanctions lifted and the war ended on all fronts before negotiations begin. He wrote on social media that it was 'time for the White House to make its own' decision on the war, referencing the recent midterm election results.

How it is being reported

• Rubio defends Trump's Iran war as not 'necessarily popular, but necessary'Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Trump's Iran war as "necessary" to prevent a nuclear weapon, even as he ties it to Republican midterm losses.Fox News · 9 Nov, 12:10
• Rubio sees little hope of diplomatic breakthrough to Mideast deadlock amid 'outrageous' Iranian demandsU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that Iran negotiations remain unproductive.CNBC · 9 Nov, 11:09
• Rubio says war on Iran unpopular but ‘necessary’ to stop nuclear threatUS secretary of state says Iran's negotiation demands are 'outrageous and ridiculous, and really not realistic'.Al Jazeera · 9 Nov, 04:02

In this story: Marco Rubio · Donald Trump · Iran · United States · Abbas Araghchi · JD Vance

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log