Rubio denies receiving Pakistan's 'warning' on Iran
Washington, June 4
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied reports that Pakistan had conveyed a message "warning" that Iran was prepared to demonstrate a nuclear weapon if the current conflict escalated further, dismissing suggestions that such a communication had reached the Trump administration.
The issue surfaced during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday (local time) when Representative Scott Perry asked Rubio whether Pakistan's foreign minister had personally delivered a message indicating that Tehran was prepared to demonstrate a nuclear capability if tensions continued to rise.
"Did Pakistan's foreign minister personally deliver a message to you that Iran is prepared to demonstrate a nuclear weapon should the current escalation continue?" Perry asked, noting that such reports had appeared publicly.
Rubio rejected the claim.
"I've not seen that reporting, and I'm not aware of any such message," the Secretary replied.
When Perry pressed the issue and referred to media reports, Rubio again distanced himself from the suggestion.
"I would be surprised if that message had been relayed. I would be aware of it if it was," he said.
The exchange came amid broader congressional questioning about the administration's ongoing negotiations with Iran following months of military confrontation and efforts to reach a new agreement limiting Tehran's nuclear activities.
Perry also asked how the administration would respond if Iran threatened to demonstrate or test a nuclear capability in the event that diplomacy failed.
Rubio said such a move would reinforce long-standing concerns about Tehran's intentions.
"I think it would confirm everything we believe about them anyway," Rubio said.
He added that any such threat would likely force the President to consider additional options.
"I think the President then would have to pursue, or at least have to consider, various other options that are available to him in that context," Rubio said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I'm skeptical of any claim that Pakistan would be the 'warning bearer' here. They have their own complicated history with both Iran and nuclear weapons. This feels like someone trying to undermine the US-Iran negotiations by creating unnecessary drama. Rubio's flat denial says it all.
Honestly, why would Iran even trust Pakistan with such a sensitive message? 🤔 Pakistan has been playing both sides for decades - friendly with Saudis, cozy with China, and now trying to be a messenger for Iran? It's all about their own survival. Meanwhile, India watches carefully - any nuclear demonstration in our neighborhood is a direct threat to stability.
Even if Pakistan did relay something, Rubio's response makes perfect operational sense. You don't publicly acknowledge backchannel communications. But I'm also thinking: Scott Perry asking this question seems like a setup to make the administration look weak on Iran. The whole thing stinks of political theater.
As an Indian, I find this whole episode troubling. Pakistan getting involved in nuclear messaging with Iran is like the fox offering to guard the henhouse. 🦊 Remember, Pakistan's own nuclear proliferation record is questionable (hello, A.Q. Khan network!). If anyone should be 'warning' about nuclear demonstrations, it should be the international community unitedly, not a country with its own nuclear baggage.
Rubio's response was textbook diplomatic denial - 'I would be surprised if that message had been relayed.' That's not a full denial; it's a procedural dodge. But I'll say this: if Pakistan really did try to deliver such a warning and it got no traction,
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.