WorldPosted at: Nov 14 2026 5:34PM


Preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is US priority, says Rubio

Washington, Nov 14 (UNI) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that ensuring Iran never acquires nuclear weapons remains a key objective of the Trump administration, warning that a nuclear-armed Tehran could hold the Middle East and the United States hostage. He accused Iran's leadership of fuelling regional instability through armed groups and pursuing capabilities that could enable it to develop nuclear weapons.
Speaking at the Federalist Society’s 2026 National Lawyers Convention in Washington, Rubio said the United States could not afford to ignore what he described as Iran's long-standing efforts to undermine regional stability.
"Victory is ensuring that they never have a nuclear weapon," Rubio said, stressing that preventing Iran from acquiring such weapons is essential to protecting the United States and its allies.
He alleged that Iran had been waging a campaign against the United States since 1979 and accused its leadership of supporting armed groups across the Middle East to advance its regional influence.
Rubio identified Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shia militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen as examples of groups that he said had received Iranian support.
He also accused Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities while publicly denying such ambitions.
"They're just interested in all the things you need for a nuclear weapon," he said, referring to Iran's missile programme and uranium enrichment activities.
Rubio argued that Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons would allow it to exert greater pressure on countries across the Middle East and threaten international security.
"Imagine if they had a nuclear weapon. They would hold the entire region hostage. They would hold this nation hostage," he said.
The Secretary of State also defended the Trump administration's approach towards Iran, saying that economic pressure had weakened the Iranian government and arguing that the issue could not be left unaddressed.
Rubio defended President Donald Trump's America First foreign policy, arguing that the primary responsibility of the US government is to protect American interests rather than conform to international expectations.
"The job of America's government and its leaders is to work for Americans," he said.
He argued that Washington had for too long prioritised global markets and international commitments at the expense of American workers and communities.
Rubio said the United States should engage with other countries and build alliances where interests aligned, but stressed that national interests must remain the guiding principle.
"We are the only country in the world that seems to have forgotten that," he said, adding, "I'm on the American side of every issue."
He said the United States needed to remain engaged internationally because developments elsewhere could directly affect its national security, economic interests and border security.
Rubio also criticised international institutions, particularly the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing what he described as a global bureaucratic establishment of using international law to restrict the sovereignty of individual nations.
He argued that international law is increasingly being used as a political instrument rather than a neutral framework of rules.
"For this global elite, international law is not a neutral body of rules; international law is an instrument to advance their interests under the pretense of universal principles," he said.
He defended the Trump administration's decision to impose sanctions on the ICC, arguing that an unelected international tribunal should not claim authority over countries that had not accepted its jurisdiction.
Rubio also criticised what he described as attempts by international organisations and advocacy groups to interfere in US immigration and foreign policy decisions.
Addressing questions about immigration and national identity, Rubio said the United States should continue welcoming people from other countries but maintain rules governing who could enter and settle in the country.
He emphasised the importance of assimilation and adopting a shared American identity.
"There's a difference between coming to live and work in America and coming to be an American. They're not always the same thing," he said.
Rubio said the country's identity is not based on race or ethnicity but on shared values and aspirations.
He also acknowledged that younger Americans faced economic challenges, arguing that economic growth should provide both prosperity and opportunities for dignified employment.
"The market exists to serve people, not people to serve the market," he said.
Rubio further said that the United States must ensure that each generation leaves the next one with a safer, stronger and more prosperous country.
Reflecting on the rise of the Federalist Society, Rubio said lasting political and institutional change required more than winning elections.
He said the organisation had helped shape American legal thinking by building networks, developing young conservative lawyers and influencing institutions over several decades.
"Politics requires more than simply winning elections, because the government is not the only source of political power," he said.
He argued that universities, media organisations, think tanks, corporations and civil society institutions also played an important role in shaping national debates and public policy.
Rubio said major political and institutional changes required sustained efforts over generations rather than short election cycles.
"Great things that last are built in decades, not election cycles," he said.
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