Marco Rubio has issued a staunch defense of the U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, contradicting findings from a recent U.S. intelligence report that suggest only temporary disruptions to the country's nuclear ambitions.
Rubio Defends U.S. Strikes, Claims Major Setback to Iranian Nuclear Program
Rubio Defends U.S. Strikes, Claims Major Setback to Iranian Nuclear Program
Secretary of State responds to intelligence report, emphasizing lasting damage from U.S. actions
June 25, 2025, 9:37 a.m. ET – In a detailed push against the latest U.S. intelligence assessments, Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that recent American military actions had delivered a significant defeat to Iran's nuclear capabilities. During a press briefing alongside President Trump, Rubio emphasized that a key facility integral to developing nuclear weapons had been "obliterated," dismissing claims from a report by the Defense Intelligence Agency that projected only minor setbacks to the Iranian program.
Rubio specifically pointed to a "conversion facility" located in Isfahan, essential for transforming nuclear fuel into weapon-capable forms. While Trump reiterated claims of total destruction, Rubio elaborated on his belief that the Iranians had been set back for years, a stark contrast to the intelligence report’s conclusion of just several months.
With statements corroborated by reports from Israeli sources and independent analysts who highlighted the extensive damage inflicted, Rubio declared, “You can’t do a nuclear weapon without a conversion facility.” He added, “We can’t even find where it is, where it used to be on the map. The whole thing is blackened out. It’s gone. It’s wiped out.”
Despite satellite images suggesting severe damage, the exact extent of the facility's destruction remains unclear until international nuclear inspectors can access the site. As tensions continue to rise surrounding the Iranian nuclear program, the U.S. administration is prepared for ongoing debates about the effectiveness of their military strategy and the potential ramifications for international security.
Rubio specifically pointed to a "conversion facility" located in Isfahan, essential for transforming nuclear fuel into weapon-capable forms. While Trump reiterated claims of total destruction, Rubio elaborated on his belief that the Iranians had been set back for years, a stark contrast to the intelligence report’s conclusion of just several months.
With statements corroborated by reports from Israeli sources and independent analysts who highlighted the extensive damage inflicted, Rubio declared, “You can’t do a nuclear weapon without a conversion facility.” He added, “We can’t even find where it is, where it used to be on the map. The whole thing is blackened out. It’s gone. It’s wiped out.”
Despite satellite images suggesting severe damage, the exact extent of the facility's destruction remains unclear until international nuclear inspectors can access the site. As tensions continue to rise surrounding the Iranian nuclear program, the U.S. administration is prepared for ongoing debates about the effectiveness of their military strategy and the potential ramifications for international security.
