Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated this Friday that Donald Trump is "the first American president who is genuinely trying to do something concrete" to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, in comments published by the official account of the State Department on X.
"All U.S. presidents have stated that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. This is the first U.S. president who is actually trying to do something concrete about it. I don't know who could disagree with that," Rubio noted.
The Secretary of State emphasized that the consensus on the unacceptability of an Iranian nuclear bomb is virtually universal: "I don't know anyone who thinks it's a good idea for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, except for the Ayatollah."
The statements come at a time of heightened tension, on the very day that the U.S. repelled a new Iranian attack involving missiles, drones, and boats, while both parties are engaged in simultaneous negotiations.
The military backdrop is crucial. On February 28, 2026, the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury, a joint air offensive that destroyed the major Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, as well as over 5,000 military targets in 38 days of operations.
The offensive was preceded by Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22, 2025, during which seven B-2 Spirit bombers attacked the underground facility at Fordow with bunker buster bombs. Following those attacks, Trump summarized the outcome in three words: "Fordow disappeared."
The Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei died on March 1, 2026 as a direct consequence of the attacks. The International Atomic Energy Agency had confirmed in March that Iran possessed 5,500 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, enough to manufacture nine nuclear bombs.
Iran responded with Operation True Promise 4 on April 28, 2026, launching over 500 missiles and 2,000 drones against Israel and 27 U.S. bases.
In parallel with the conflict, the U.S. and Iran are approaching a possible agreement as Trump stated last Wednesday, describing the discussions as "very good" after 44 hours of negotiations and deeming it "very likely" to reach an understanding.
Both parties are negotiating a 14-point memorandum that includes a moratorium on uranium enrichment, the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen funds, and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. The main point of contention is the duration of this moratorium: Washington demands zero enrichment for a period of 12 to 20 years, while Tehran offers between five and 15 years.
Iran also claims 270 billion dollars in war reparations as part of its 14-point peace plan presented through Pakistani mediators between May 1 and 3.
Rubio had already warned on March 4, 2026 that Iran will never be able to have a nuclear weapon, and on April 28, he denounced that Tehran boasts of controlling 25% of global energy through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an "economic nuclear weapon."
Trump, for his part, warned on April 6, 2026 that "all of Iran could be wiped out in a single night" if an agreement was not reached, making it clear that military pressure remains on the table while negotiations continue.
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