- By Shivangi Sharma
- Mon, 23 Jun 2025 04:06 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
US Secretary of State and acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio has ignited debate over Iran’s nuclear ambitions by declaring that it is "irrelevant" whether the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, formally ordered the development of a nuclear weapon. In an interview aired Sunday on CBS News' Face the Nation, Rubio strongly implied that Iran was effectively pursuing nuclear arms, regardless of documented intelligence assessments.
Pressed by host Margaret Brennan on whether US intelligence had verified that Iran was actively trying to build a nuclear weapon under Khamenei’s orders, Rubio said, “That’s an irrelevant question. They have everything they need to build a weapon. I see that question being asked in the media all the time, but it doesn’t matter. Forget about intelligence. Forget about what the intelligence says.”
Deflects March Intelligence Assessment
Brennan referenced the March testimony of US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard, who told Congress that Iran had not issued an order to begin nuclear weapon construction. Rubio pushed back, accusing Brennan of misrepresenting the report and insisting that intelligence isn’t interpreted in such a literal way.
“That’s not how intelligence is read. That’s not how intelligence is used,” Rubio said. He argued that Iran’s behaviour speaks louder than classified assessments: “They are enriching uranium well beyond anything needed for a peaceful nuclear program.”
Deep-Buried Sites Cited
Rubio questioned why Iran would need to enrich uranium to 60 per cent purity, a level far exceeding what is required for civilian energy use, unless it intended to quickly upgrade to weapons-grade (90 per cent) material. “Why would they bury facilities 300 feet under a mountain? Why do they have a space program? Are they going to the moon? No, they’re building an ICBM to carry a warhead,” he stated.
He also pointed to the three Iranian nuclear sites recently targeted by US and Israeli strikes, suggesting these locations were key to Tehran’s suspected military program.
Rubio further noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found Iran in violation of its nonproliferation obligations. The agency reported unexplained traces of uranium at undeclared sites, which Rubio argued is further evidence of covert weapons activity.
“They have the delivery systems. They have highly enriched uranium. They have the means and the motive. Especially in the hands of a regime already steeped in terrorism and regional destabilisation,” Rubio warned.