Secretary of State Marco Rubio clashes with CBS host over Iranian nuclear ambitions
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CBS Host Margaret Brennan sparred over whether U.S. intelligence had found that Iran had ordered the development of a nuclear weapon, with Rubio dismissing Brennan's question as "irrelevant."
Brennan asked Rubio if the United States saw "intelligence that the Supreme Leader had ordered weaponization" of uraniam on Face the Nation Sunday. Rubio, who also serves as National Security Advisor, shot back at the CBS host, saying that whether Iran's supreme leader ordered weaponization didn't matter, the regime was already pursing a nuclear weapon.
"That's irrelevant. I see that question being asked in the media all the time. That's an irrelevant question. They have everything they need to build a weapon," Rubio said.
The CBS host countered that whether weaponization was ordered was the "key point" in U.S. intelligence assessments. Rubio denied that was the case, and claimed that he knew the subject "better" than Brennan.
"Why would you bury things in a mountain, 300 feet under the ground? Why would they have 60% enriched uranium? You don't need 60% enriched uranium. The only countries in the world that have uranium at 60% are countries that have nuclear weapons, because it can quickly make it 90. They have all the elements. Why do they have a space program? Is Iran going to go to the moon? No. They're trying to build an ICBM so they can one day put a warhead on it," Rubio responded.
Brennan cited Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's March congressional testimony that Iran had not ordered the construction of a nuclear weapon. The "Face the Nation" host asked Rubio if the U.S. intelligence community had learned anything new since Gabbard's testimony. Rubio accused Brennan of not presenting the assessment accurately.
"That's an inaccurate representation of it. That's not how intelligence is read. That's now how intelligence is used," Rubio said.
Rubio went on to state that the International Atomic Energy Agency recently found Iran was not in compliance with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations. The IAEA report found that Iran could not account for how traces of uranium were found at undeclared nuclear sites.
"The Board of Governors... finds that Iran's many failures to uphold its obligations since 2019 to provide the Agency with full and timely cooperation regarding undeclared nuclear material and activities at multiple undeclared locations in Iran ... constitutes non-compliance with its obligations under its Safeguards Agreement with the Agency," the report said.
"They have the delivery mechanisms, they have the enrichment capability, they have the highly enriched uranium that is stored. That's all we need to see. Especially in the hands of a regime that's already involved in terrorism and proxies and all kinds of things around. They are the source of all instability in the Middle East," Rubio said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
An isolated Iran looks for allies on the world stage
Iran's top diplomat arrives in Moscow after the U.S. attack on three nuclear sites. Former Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul warns that its the U.S who is "isolating itself", which leaves an opening for China.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Syria: 22 killed after suicide bomber opens fire at church - and then detonates explosive vest
At least 22 people have been killed after a suicide bomber opened fire at a church in Syria - and then detonated an explosive vest. This is the first such incident since Bashar al Assad was toppled in December, and officials claim the attacker was a member of Islamic State. It happened at a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus, with estimates suggesting that 350 worshippers were praying there at the time. Witnesses said the perpetrator had his face covered when he began shooting - and blew himself up as crowds attempted to remove him from the building. A security source told Reuters that two men were involved in the attack, with a priest saying he saw a second gunman at the entrance. Officials say 63 people were injured, and children were among the casualties. Syria's information minister, Hamza Mostafa, condemned the terrorist attack - writing on X: "This cowardly act goes against the civic values that bring us together. "We will not back down from our commitment to equal citizenship... and we also affirm the state's pledge to exert all its efforts to combat criminal organisations." Read more world news: Reports suggest that IS has attempted to attack several churches in Syria since Assad fell, but this is the first time they have succeeded. Footage filmed by Syria's civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction inside the church - including bloodied floors and shattered pews. The Greek foreign ministry says it "unequivocally condemns the abhorrent terrorist suicide bombing", and called on Syria "to guarantee the safety" of Christians with new measures.
CNN
29 minutes ago
- CNN
UN Nuclear Chief on Damage to Iran's Nuclear Sites - Fareed Zakaria GPS - Podcast on CNN Audio
UN Nuclear Chief on Damage to Iran's Nuclear Sites Fareed Zakaria GPS 43 mins Today on the program, the US entered the conflict between Israel and Iran by striking three of its key nuclear sites. Fareed speaks with head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi about the damage caused by the attack. Then, why did President Trump decide to enter the conflict? Fareed speaks to CFR President Emeritus Richard Haas and retired Admiral James Stavridis. Finally, how are leaders in Iran and Israel changing their strategies moving forward and will these strikes usher in a new era in the Middle East? Fareed is joined by Johns Hopkins' Vali Nasr and Columbia University's Nadav Eyal. GUESTS: Rafael Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi), James Stavridis (@stavridisj), Richard Haass (@RichardHaass), Vali Nasr (@vali_nasr), Nadav Eyal (@Nadav_Eyal)
