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US Strikes Iran's "Conventional Shield" in "Last Best Chance" Move, Says Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly defended a recent US military strike on Iran, framing it as a critical pre-emptive action. He stated the operation targeted Iran's "conventional shield" of missiles and drones, which was nearing completion and would have protected its nuclear weapons program. Rubio accused Iran of consistently rejecting peaceful nuclear energy offers and secretly building facilities deep underground for weapons-grade enrichment. He asserted this was the "last best chance" to eliminate the threat and force Iran to negotiate seriously about never obtaining nuclear weapons.

Key Points: Rubio Defends US Strike on Iran's Missile Shield

  • Strike aimed at Iran's missile & drone shield
  • Pre-emptive move against nuclear threat
  • Iran accused of hiding facilities in mountains
  • US warns of dual-use enrichment tech
2 min read

"Last best chance": US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defends strike on Iran's "conventional shield"

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls Iran strike "last best chance" to destroy its missile and drone shield protecting nuclear ambitions.

"This was our last best chance to eliminate that conventional threat - Marco Rubio"

Washington, DC, April 1

The White House has released a comprehensive breakdown regarding the strategic necessity of recent military actions, asserting that the mission was a critical pre-emptive strike to neutralise a long-standing threat.

In a post shared on X, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained the rationale behind the timing of the operation, addressing concerns over why the United States initiated the attack on Iran at this juncture.

"Many Americans are asking, why did the United States have to attack Iran now? Well, let me explain. Iran wants to have nuclear weapons. Of that, there is zero doubt," Rubio stated.

The Secretary of State contrasted Iran's actions with standard international protocols for peaceful nuclear energy. He noted that while other nations import fuel and build reactors above ground, "that's not what Iran has done. They build the reactors and their facilities deep in mountains, away from the public glare, and they want to enrich that material."

Rubio further warned of the dual-use nature of the technology Iran has pursued, stating, "The same equipment that they could use to enrich material for energy, they could use to quickly enrich it to weapons grade."

He added that despite being offered opportunities for a non-weaponised programme, "every single time they have turned it down."

Detailing the immediate threat that prompted the decision to act now, Rubio described Tehran's efforts to construct a "conventional shield" composed of a massive arsenal of missiles and drones.

"We were on the verge of an Iran that had so many missiles and so many drones that no one could do anything about their nuclear weapons programme in the future. That was an intolerable risk," he remarked.

The Secretary of State emphasised that the US could not allow a regime with an "apocalyptic vision of the future" to protect its nuclear ambitions behind such a shield.

"This was our last best chance to eliminate that conventional threat, that conventional shield that they were trying to build, and the president made the right decision to wipe it out now," Rubio asserted.

Highlighting the specific objectives of the ongoing military efforts, Rubio clarified that the goal is "to destroy their conventional missiles and their drone programme so they can't hide behind it and finally have to deal with the world seriously about never ever having nuclear weapons."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The timing is very suspicious. US elections are coming up. Always some big foreign policy move before voting. Our government needs to be very careful navigating this - we have strong ties with both US and Gulf countries. National interest first!
R
Rohit P
If Iran really was building nukes in secret mountains, that's a serious global threat. But where is the UN proof? US intelligence has been wrong before. India should push for IAEA verification and a diplomatic solution through multilateral forums.
S
Sarah B
Living in Delhi, I'm already worried about petrol prices shooting up. Another conflict in the Middle East means more inflation for common people like us. Hope our strategic oil reserves are in good shape.
V
Vikram M
The "conventional shield" argument makes sense strategically. You can't negotiate if your adversary becomes militarily untouchable. But the execution matters. Was this proportionate? What about civilian casualties? The US needs to be transparent.
K
Kavya N
As a student of international relations, this is textbook preventive strike doctrine. But it violates sovereignty. India has always stood for peaceful resolution of disputes. We must maintain that principled position while protecting our energy security. Tough balancing act for MEA.

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