The Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified this Tuesday the U.S. military strike against Iran, calling it "the last and best opportunity" to definitively eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat.
The video was published on the White House's X account in the context of Operation Epic Fury, launched on February 28 in coordination with Israel, a military offensive that, after more than a month in execution, has struck thousands of targets in Iran, including key nuclear facilities like Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow.
"Many Americans are wondering why the United States had to attack Iran now. Let me explain. Iran wants to have nuclear weapons. There's no doubt about that," Rubio stated at the beginning of the video.
The Secretary of State argued that if Iran truly only wanted nuclear energy, it could import fuel and build reactors above ground, as other countries do.
However, he noted that Iran built its facilities underground, in mountains, out of public view, which reveals its true intentions.
"They built their reactors and facilities deep in the mountains, out of public view. And they want to enrich that material," Rubio said, adding that the same equipment used to enrich uranium for energy purposes can be used to produce weapons-grade material.
Rubio's central argument revolves around the concept of a "conventional shield": Iran had accumulated such a quantity of missiles and drones that, in the near future, no country would be able to act against its nuclear program without facing unacceptable consequences.
"We were on the brink of an Iran with so many missiles and so many drones that no one could do anything against its nuclear weapons program in the future. That was an intolerable risk," he warned.
Rubio was categorical in stating that under no circumstances can a country governed by "radical Shia clerics with an apocalyptic vision of the future" be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.
The Secretary of State clarified that the objective of the operation is not regime change, but rather to destroy that conventional arsenal so that Iran is left without that protective umbrella.
"The objective of this operation is to destroy their conventional missiles and drone program so that they cannot hide behind them and will finally have to negotiate seriously with the world about never having nuclear weapons," he explained.
As of now, the situation is in a hybrid phase of military pressure and diplomatic negotiation.
President Trump extended a pause on attacks on energy infrastructure until April 6 last Friday, while demanding that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reach a definitive nuclear agreement.
On Monday, Trump issued a new warning: to destroy power plants, oil wells, the island of Kharg and desalination plants if no agreement is reached by that date.
On Sunday, Iran attacked a U.S. military base in Saudi Arabia, injuring 12 soldiers.
Rubio estimated last Friday that the military operation will conclude within a matter of weeks, in two to four more weeks, as negotiations progress indirectly through Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt.
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