Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a series of forceful warnings regarding Iran on Sunday, declaring that the United States will not allow Tehran to threaten international waterways or strengthen its nuclear ambitions.

Speaking about escalating tensions with Iran, Rubio accused the regime of threatening commercial vessels traveling through international waters, warning that allowing such actions to continue would create a dangerous global precedent.

“Iran is threatening to destroy commercial vessels using an international waterway,” Rubio said. “If we allowed that to become normal, we’d be normalizing an unacceptable status quo and setting a dangerous precedent that can be replicated in this region and around the world.”

Rubio also emphasized that President Donald Trump still prefers a diplomatic solution to the ongoing standoff with Iran, though he made clear the administration is prepared to act if diplomacy fails.

“The President’s preference is to find a diplomatic way that these problems can be solved,” Rubio said. “He would much rather have the Department of State solve this problem than the Department of War solve it, but the problem will be solved one way or the other.”

Addressing concerns about a potential nuclear agreement, Rubio firmly rejected suggestions that the Trump administration would accept any deal that leaves Iran in a stronger nuclear position.

“The idea that the President is going to agree to a deal that puts Iran in a stronger position on nuclear ambitions is absurd,” Rubio stated. “That’s just not going to happen.”

Rubio also outlined what he described as the objectives achieved during the conflict with Iran, saying the campaign succeeded in severely weakening Tehran’s military capabilities.

“When this conflict began with Iran, the goals were outlined,” Rubio said. “Destroy their navy. Reduce their ability to launch ballistic missiles. Damage their defense industrial base. Those objectives were achieved.”

The remarks come amid continuing regional tensions and ongoing negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, with fears growing over potential escalation in the Middle East and threats to critical international shipping lanes.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)