‘Iran will never have a nuclear weapon’: Rubio draws red line for Tehran

File photo: Iran will never have nuclear weapon, says US Secretary of State Rubio

US secretary of state Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Iran will never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon under US president Donald Trump, as Washington pushes Tehran to make a substantial reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity as part of any deal to end the war.“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, simple, period and end of story,” Rubio said at a joint press briefing with Greek foreign minister Giorgos Gerapetritis in Athens.“Anything they agree to that would be acceptable to the United States has to be something that ensures that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” he added.Rubio’s comments came a day after US Vice President JD Vance said Washington would not accept assurances from Tehran without concrete action on its nuclear programme.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Vance said Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction in its enrichment capacity for the US to agree to an end to the seven-month war.“If you don't want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel?” Vance said.“If you want to show commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, don't build highly enriched fuel,” he added.Vance said Washington remained open to a negotiated settlement but would not accept promises in place of action.

The comments came as the US and Iran exchanged proposals aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy shipments.The secretary of state also accused Iran of building up its conventional military capabilities to protect its nuclear programme from foreign attack. He said Tehran had amassed large stocks of ballistic missiles and drones capable of retaliating against countries that attempted to strike its nuclear facilities.Rubio said the Trump administration had significantly weakened those capabilities.“He destroyed their drone programme, their drone manufacturing capability,” Rubio said, referring to Trump.“He destroyed their missile capability. He severely eroded both of those capabilities in terms of current launchers. He destroyed their navy. He destroyed their air force.”Rubio said the weakening of Iran’s conventional military had reduced its ability to shield its nuclear installations from military action.“They will never have a nuclear weapon, period, not as long as president Trump is in office,” he said.

US piles pressure on Tehran

Rubio also painted a bleak picture of Iran’s economy, saying US sanctions were putting increasing pressure on Tehran.“Their economy is in total and complete freefall,” he said, blaming Iran’s leadership for spending the country’s resources on regional armed groups rather than its domestic economy.He specifically accused Tehran of funding Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and militias in Iraq.Rubio said oil shipments through the strait had already recovered significantly.“There's almost as much oil flowing out now as there was before this conflict began,” he said.