NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF ARTICLE
Secretary of State Marco Rubio fiercely pushed back against CBS’s Margaret Brennan during a tense exchange on Face the Nation, after being questioned about U.S. intelligence on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Brennan pressed Rubio on whether the U.S. had concrete intelligence showing that Iran’s Supreme Leader had officially ordered the weaponization of uranium. Rubio, who also serves as National Security Advisor, shot back sharply: “That’s irrelevant.”
Rubio dismissed the line of questioning as a “media obsession,” arguing that Iran’s nuclear ambitions are self-evident. “They have everything they need to build a weapon,” he said. “Why would you bury facilities 300 feet underground? Why enrich uranium to 60%? No one does that unless they intend to weaponize. Only nuclear powers have uranium at that level—it’s one step from weapons-grade.”
Brennan countered that the formal order was a critical benchmark for intelligence agencies. Rubio disagreed, saying, “That’s not how intelligence works. That’s not how it’s interpreted or applied.”
Referencing March testimony from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard—who stated Iran had not officially ordered nuclear weapon construction—Brennan asked if new intel had emerged. Rubio claimed Brennan was misrepresenting the report, citing Iran’s noncompliance with IAEA safeguards and activities at undisclosed sites as evidence of intent.
“They have the enrichment capacity, delivery systems, and highly enriched uranium. That’s all you need to know, especially when it’s in the hands of a regime responsible for terrorism, regional destabilization, and proxy warfare,” Rubio added.
In the wake of recent U.S. strikes, the Iranian parliament announced it would move to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil shipments. On Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, Rubio warned of severe global consequences if Iran follows through.
“I’d tell Beijing to pay close attention—China’s economy depends on oil flowing through that strait. Shutting it down would be economic suicide for Iran, and we still have strategic options on the table,” he told Maria Bartiromo. “This move would hurt others even more than us. It’s the kind of escalation that demands a global response.”
Rubio’s remarks have reignited the debate over Iran’s intentions and America’s posture, as tensions across the region remain dangerously high.
https://TWITTER.com/i/status/1936797923267809774
