WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews)-Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a forceful defense of U.S. military operations targeting Iran, describing the country’s leadership as “radical Shia clerics” and warning that their actions pose a growing threat to global security.

Speaking in the Cabinet room, Rubio emphasized that U.S. actions are directed at Iran’s ruling regime, not its people.

“What I’m talking about is not the people of Iran,” Rubio said. “The people that run this country are radical, Shia clerics. These are religious fanatics.”

Rubio argued that recent attacks attributed to Iran underscore the urgency of U.S. intervention, particularly at what he described as a moment of vulnerability for Tehran.

“This is the weakest Iran has ever been, and look at what they’re doing,” he said. “They’re attacking embassies. They’re attacking hotels. Imagine what these people would do if they had a nuclear weapon. That is an unacceptable risk for the world.”

He framed the administration’s actions as not only protecting American interests, but also serving a broader global purpose.

“The president’s not just doing a favor to the United States and to our people,” Rubio said. “This is for the world.”

According to Rubio, the administration laid out clear military objectives at the outset of the operation, including dismantling Iran’s naval forces and degrading its missile capabilities.

“We were going to destroy Iran’s navy, and that is happening,” he said. “We were going to destroy their missile launching capabilities… We were going to destroy the factory so they couldn’t make more missiles and more drones.”

Rubio added that progress toward those goals is ongoing.

“We’re well on our way to achieving that goal,” he said. “Every single objective the president clearly laid out on the first night of this operation is being effectuated.”

He also pointed to Iran’s long history of hostility toward the United States.

“For 47 years, Iran has been killing Americans and attacking Americans across this planet,” Rubio said. “Other presidents had an opportunity to do something about it… but they refused to act.”

Contrasting past administrations with the current one, Rubio said decisive action was necessary.

“This president’s not someone that’s going to refuse to act,” he said. “He’s not going to leave a danger like this in place. He’s going to address it, and that is what he is doing.”

The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region, as U.S. forces continue operations aimed at weakening Iran’s military capabilities.