In a strong message on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Iran to make significant changes to its nuclear and military programs. Speaking in a Fox News interview, Rubio said Iran must “walk away” from enriching uranium and developing long-range missiles — steps he views as necessary to build trust and prevent future conflict.
His remarks came as nuclear negotiations between Iran and world powers hit another roadblock. The latest round of talks, scheduled for Saturday in Rome, has been postponed. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the delay was due to “the U.S. approach,” and no new date has been set.
Rubio didn’t mince words. “They have to stop supporting terrorism, they have to stop backing the Houthis in Yemen, and they need to give up enrichment,” he said. He also pushed for Iran to accept international scrutiny, suggesting American inspectors be granted full access to all of Iran’s nuclear facilities, including military sites.
For Rubio, importing nuclear fuel instead of enriching it domestically is the safest path forward. “If you can enrich uranium even a little, it’s just a matter of time before it can be weaponized,” he explained.
Iran, however, has consistently defended its right to enrich uranium under the global Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It insists its program is for peaceful purposes only and denies any intention to build a nuclear weapon.
The comments from Rubio reflect deep divisions that still exist between Washington and Tehran. And with President Trump having previously threatened military action if a deal can’t be reached, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
As the world watches and waits for talks to resume, questions remain: can trust be rebuilt — and will both sides be willing to compromise for the sake of global security?
