The Media Line: Rubio Reiterates 4 Goals of War  

Rubio Reiterates 4 Goals of War  

By The Media Line Staff  

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is pursuing four defined military objectives against Iran—destroying its air force, dismantling its navy, eliminating missile and drone production, and degrading its missile launch capabilities—in remarks during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, as he outlined the rationale for ongoing operations and broader US policy priorities.  

“We are going to destroy their air force. We have largely done that. We were going to destroy their navy, which we have largely achieved that. We were going to destroy a significant percentage of their missile launchers. We are well on our way to achieving that. And we were going to wipe out their defense industrial base, meaning the factories that make the drones and the missiles. We are on our way to doing that,” Rubio said.  

He said the objectives are intended to prevent Iran from advancing toward a nuclear weapon while using conventional capabilities to deter intervention. “Those were our four objectives because those were the four things they were going to hide behind to then develop a nuclear weapon and threaten the world if they tried to do anything about it,” he said.  

Rubio said the US is “on or ahead of schedule on each of those four objectives” and added, “we can see the finish line.”  

Iran’s nuclear activity is a central concern, citing its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium. “There is no use for 60% enriched uranium … The only reason to have it is to be able to enrich it to 90% and put it in a bomb,” Rubio said.  

Rubio said Iran has pursued long-range missile capabilities and could eventually endanger America. “They were moving towards eventually having a missile that could reach the continental United States,” he said.  

The Trump administration remains open to negotiations but would not allow talks to delay military action. “We’re always going to be open for that … but we’re not going to allow fake negotiations to be used as a delay tactic,” Rubio said.  

Rubio also raised concerns about NATO: “We are going to have to re-examine whether or not this alliance … is still serving that purpose, or is it now become a one-way street,” he said, citing disputes over access to bases and overflight rights.  

On global energy security, Rubio said any attempt by Iran to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would violate international law. “Anything Iran does to impede commercial traffic is illegal,” he said.  

Rubio also discussed US policy toward Latin America. He said Venezuela has entered a “recovery phase” following stabilization efforts, with oil revenues directed through US-controlled accounts for public benefit. He said hundreds of political prisoners have been released, and a detention facility closed.