Secretary of State Marco Rubio tore into claims that Tehran has emerged stronger from the US war on Iran, arguing the regime has been left militarily crippled and economically battered.
Asked during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing whether Iran is stronger today, Rubio responded with a blistering rundown of the country’s problems.
“They have no navy, they have no air force, they have no air defenses,” Rubio said, adding that Iran’s defense industry has suffered “massive destruction” and the regime has lost a substantial number of its missile and drone launchers.
Rubio also pointed to Iran’s economic woes, saying the country is losing hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, facing hyperinflation and struggling to pay its bills.
ZUMAPRESS.com“Their leadership is fractured. They have hyperinflation, their currency is worthless, and they’re having trouble making payroll,” he said.
Then came the punchline: “I guess other than that, they’re doing well.”
Rubio spent much of the hearing addressing Congress’ concerns over the ongoing Iran war — and pledged that the Trump administration would allow Congress to review any potential nuclear agreement with Iran, as required by law.
CENTCOM / SWNSOnce a deal is achieved, the secretary said the administration would “comply with INARA,” referring to the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, which required the president to submit nuclear agreements with Iran to Congress for a vote.
But Rubio also indicated congressional bellyaching is unhelpful to US deal-making with Iran.
Specifically, he said international news coverage of Democrats’ push for a War Powers Act vote is hurting the US’ chances at getting a nuclear deal with Tehran.
“The Iranians have misunderstood it in the past. They think … if this thing passes, that means the president will not be able to come after us, so he no longer has any leverage,” Rubio told the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“I think if you see how it’s reported on Iranian state television and things of that nature, it makes them think that somehow our hands are going to be tied and we won’t be able to do anything to them, so why make a deal?”
REUTERSHe also discussed the two-day talks in Washington between Israel and Lebanon, indicating the countries may soon sign an “action plan” for peace as a result of the US-mediated talks.
“As I speak to you now … leaders of the legitimate government of Lebanon and leaders from the government of Israel are seated at the State Department for the second day in a row,” he said.
“And hopefully today will produce a joint statement and an action plan on a track for security in that country, independent from Hezbollah, independent from nefarious influence.”
It came as Iranian state media on Wednesday claimed Tehran would not sign any agreement that did not address Israel’s strikes on Hezbollah.
But Rubio said the US wants to see the Lebanese government reclaim full control of the country by strengthening its military and disarming Hezbollah.
“What we would like to see is a Lebanese armed forces with the strength and the capability to disarm Hezbollah and reclaim the entirety of the country,” Rubio said, as the US mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington.
The top US diplomat argued that Lebanon should have only one military force operating within its borders, taking aim at the Iran-backed terror group.
Rubio added that many Lebanese citizens share that goal and want the government to exercise authority across the entire country.






