“This is not an offensive operation; this is a defensive operation,” Rubio said.
“And what that means is very simple — there’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first. We are only responding if attacked first.“
The briefing occurred amid recent US-Iran exchanges of fire in the key waterway, Strait of Hormuz, but Rubio stressed that a ceasefire remains in place and Epic Fury’s military phase has ended.
Rubio warned Iran over its blockade of the Hormuz, saying: “The Straits of Hormuz do not belong to Iran. They don’t have a right to shut it down and blow up ships and lay mines. And that’s what they’ve done. That needs to be addressed… It cannot be normalised.“
Rubio also charged at Iran’s leadership, called them “insane in the brain” and also alluded to Ice Cube lyrics, warning Tehran to “check yourself before you wreck yourself.”
The top US diplomat warned that a nuclear-armed Iran would be catastrophic, potentially closing the strait indefinitely and triggering a global surge in fuel prices.
He linked the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to Iran’s nuclear programme, noting that the US had already eliminated Iran’s ability to hide behind a “shield” regarding its nuclear ambitions.
Rubio also warned that Iran “really shouldn’t test the will of the US, at least not under President Donald Trump.”
Asked if US is any closer to getting rid of Iran’s nuclear material, Rubio delivered a lengthy response, saying: “I think the president been clear that part of the negotiation process has to be not just the enrichment, but what happens to this material that’s buried deep somewhere that they still have access to if they ever wanted to dig it out. That has to be addressed. And that’s being addressed in the negotiation. I’m not going to go further on what progress has been made on that topic because I don’t want to endanger the negotiations.“
Related
‘100 percent unconstitutional’
Rubio also said that he disagreed with the 1973 War Powers Act, which requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of sending troops and to seek authorization after 60 days.
“We don’t acknowledge the law as constitutional. Nonetheless, we comply with elements of it for purposes of maintaining good relations with Congress,” he said.
The act requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops and to seek approval after 60 days.
However, Rubio stressed that the Trump administration has fully complied with the law, including notifying Congress, the Gang of Eight, and congressional leadership within the required 48 hours after the start of hostilities.
