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The Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted a message yesterday on his official X account to congratulate Donald Trump on his 80th birthday, describing him as a leader of unparalleled courage, strength, and love for the country.
In the post from his account @SecRubio, Rubio wrote: "America is fortunate to have a leader with such incredible bravery, remarkable strength, unmatched sense of humor, and unparalleled love for the country. Happy birthday, Mr. President!".
The tribute came on a day rich in symbolism: June 14 is also American Flag Day and part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States' independence.
But the biggest birthday gift was not from Rubio, but rather the one Trump secured on the diplomatic front: that very Sunday, the president announced on Truth Social that the agreement with Iran was "complete", authorizing the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade.
"Let the oil flow!" wrote Trump, in what represents the greatest diplomatic achievement of his second term.
Rubio had been one of the main actors in that negotiation process, and hours before his congratulatory message, he informed Congress that talks with Iran were ongoing and that there would be news that same day.
The conflict began on February 28, 2026 with "Operation Epic Fury," a coordinated air offensive by the United States and Israel against Iranian nuclear and military installations.
Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz—through which approximately 20% of the world's oil passes—and launching missiles and drones at allied targets.
The United States established a naval blockade on April 13, 2026, and the negotiations, mediated by Pakistan with support from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, were arduous for months.
Iran suspended negotiations on June 1 due to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, and on June 8 announced a conditional halt to its military operations.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, confirmed shortly before Trump’s announcement that the agreement had been "REACHED," with an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.
According to a draft leaked to Reuters, the agreement would include the suspension of the Iranian nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen assets estimated at 24 billion dollars.
The birthday celebration also had its festive dimension: the White House organized UFC Freedom 250 in the south garden of the presidential residence, described as the first professional sports event held on that ground, with a fan area in the Ellipse capable of accommodating up to 120,000 people.
The White House issued an official message describing Trump as "an tireless patriot" in honor of his 80th birthday.
The official signing ceremony of the agreement with Iran is scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland, which will make that day the formal culmination of a diplomatic process that Rubio helped maintain until the very end.
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