Rubio claim of Israeli role in US Iran attack reverberates, despite denial
Al Jazeera
Commentators across political spectrum, including MAGA base, seize on Rubio’s words amid shifting war justifications.
Washington, DC – On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio provided a looping justification for the US launching a war against Iran: Israel was planning to strike Iran, which would have prompted Tehran to strike the US assets in the region, requiring Washington to launch preemptive strikes on Iran.
Even as the administration of US President Donald Trump has sought to roll back claims made by several officials in recent days, they have continued to spark dismay across the political spectrum.
Rubio’s statement was particularly notable, given the assessment by many Iran analysts that the US-Israel war, which has led to regional retaliation from Iran, serves the interests not of Washington, but of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Washington is seen as having outsized leverage over Israel, to which it has provided more than $300bn in military aid since 1948, including $21bn during Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Trump, when asked about Rubio’s statement on Tuesday, appeared to offer a different characterisation, saying he launched the war because he “thought we were going to have a situation where we were going to be attacked”.
Iran has been striking more than military targets across the Gulf region, hitting oil and gas facilities.
Trump contradicts Rubio by saying US attacked Iran because ‘he had a feeling’ Tehran would attack Washington first.
Colin Gray was accused of criminal recklessness in allowing his 14-year-old son Colt to have access to a rifle.
Analysts say the joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran appear to breach the UN Charter’s prohibition on aggression.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman has warned European countries against joining the ongoing war with Israel and the US.
NATO Chief Mark Rutte says the world is “better off” with Iran’s Supreme Leader gone.
South Africa were defeated finalists in 2024 and are no strangers to last-four exits, but take an unbeaten run to the semifinals.
The CIA shared location intel with Israel that moved the timing of the strikes forward according to US media reports.
As US-Israeli attacks continue, watchdog says ‘no radiological consequence expected’.
Gulf countries have accused Iran of targeting civilian infrastructure such as hotels and airports as tensions escalate in the region.