On Tuesday, May 5, US Secretary of State Rubio stood in as the White House spokesperson for Karoline Leavitt and held a press conference focusing mainly on the Iran issue. He warned Iran not to test America’s resolve.
Rubio stated that Iran must return to the negotiating table and cautioned that if Tehran rejects diplomatic avenues, they will face “increasing isolation, economic collapse, and ultimately a path to utter failure.”
“They really should not test America’s resolve, at least not during President Donald Trump’s term,” Rubio told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.
The primary issue sparking tensions between the US and Iran revolves around Iran’s nuclear program. Rubio emphasized during the press conference that Iran’s claims of not intending to develop nuclear weapons contradict their actual actions. He pointed out that Iran’s advancements in centrifuge technology, uranium enrichment, and underground bunkers clearly show that the Iranian government has not been earnest in fulfilling its non-nuclear commitments.
Rubio listed Iran’s long-range missiles, underground uranium enrichment facilities, and uranium enriched to 60%, stating that this uranium “has absolutely no civilian use whatsoever.”
He stressed that Iran must choose between war and peace, with the prerequisite for peace being Iran’s government providing convincing evidence that they will not attempt to develop nuclear weapons.
Rubio stated that Iran’s actions indicate a desire to pursue a military nuclear program, which is unacceptable.
During the press conference, Rubio introduced the US military’s operation known as “Operation Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz. The operation aims to assist stranded ships in safely passing through the strait. He mentioned that approximately 23,000 civilian sailors are trapped in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the US military escorting ships through the strait aims to help these sailors get to safety.
The Secretary of State emphasized that the US’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz are purely defensive.
“We will not fire unless we are attacked,” he told reporters. “We will only retaliate after being attacked.”
He further added that if Iran were to attack US vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the US would not hesitate to respond.
“If we are attacked, we will retaliate, and we will respond with lethal force,” he stated.