Rubio: Iran Nuclear Program Set Back – Operation Midnight Hammer
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Wednesday that iran is "much further away from a nuclear weapon" following recent U.S.
- "The bottom line is, they are much further away from a nuclear weapon today than they were before the president took this bold action," Rubio said.
- Rubio's assessment follows a leaked Pentagon intelligence report suggesting the strikes only set back Iran's nuclear program by months.
Marco Rubio clarifies the impact of U.S. airstrikes on IranS nuclear program, asserting important damage, but contradicting president Trump’s claim of complete obliteration of facilities. Discover how the Florida Senator tempered the President’s initial assessment, providing a more nuanced perspective on the ongoing situation. Key takeaway: Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been hindered by recent strikes,although the extent of the setback remains a subject of debate. Further, Rubio dismisses reports suggesting the strikes only caused minimal disruption, and clarifies the U.S. stance on regime change in Iran. Get insights from News Directory 3 on the evolving geopolitical dynamics. Discover what’s next in the assessment of Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the implications for global security.
Rubio Softens Trump’s Claim on Iran Nuclear Damage
updated June 25, 2025
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Wednesday that iran is “much further away from a nuclear weapon” following recent U.S. airstrikes. His comments, made during a Nato summit in The Hague, come after President Trump asserted that Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fardo, Natanz, and Isfahan were “entirely obliterated.”
“The bottom line is, they are much further away from a nuclear weapon today than they were before the president took this bold action,” Rubio said. He added that “significant, very significant, substantial damage was done to a variety of different components.”
Rubio’s assessment follows a leaked Pentagon intelligence report suggesting the strikes only set back Iran’s nuclear program by months. The U.S. intelligence community is expected to release further analyses soon.
Rubio dismissed media reports of the leaked assessment as ”false,” claiming they did not present the full picture. “That story is a false story, and it’s one that really shouldn’t be rereported because it doesn’t accurately reflect what’s happening,” he said.
While Trump has hinted at regime change in Iran,Rubio clarified that this is not the U.S. goverment’s objective. “The United States’ job is not to go around and set up governments for every country,” he said. “Our national security issue with Iran is with a clerical regime that wants nuclear weapons so they can threaten us, threaten Israel today, threaten us tomorrow. And the president’s made clear that’s not going to happen.”
Rubio added that Trump views regime change as a likely outcome if Iran continues on its current course.
He also noted that while Trump considers various viewpoints, “once the president makes a decision, his instincts are uncanny, and we have to appreciate that.”
“When he says, ‘this is the direction I want to go,’ our job is not to spend all day trying to change his mind,” Rubio said.
What’s next
Further assessments from the U.S. intelligence community are expected in the coming weeks, which may provide a clearer picture of the long-term impact of the airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.