War on Iran was a necessity even if unpopular, says US Secretary of State

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said President Donald Trump launched the war against Iran to protect the world from Tehran's nuclear weapons ambitions. Speaking to reporters in Florida on Sunday, he said Trump identified "a very real threat" in Iran and worked to stop its path to a nuclear weapon. "He confronted hard challenges to our nation's security; doing so was a necessity, whether or not it was popular with the public," Rubio said.

On diplomatic efforts to end the war, Rubio said: "I will not say we are on published reporting of a breakthrough." While Trump prefers a diplomatic solution, Iran's demands are "not just unacceptable; some are incredible, even laughable, and not realistic at all," he added.

Rubio's remarks came after Trump said "many people didn't like" Vice President JD Vance's comment that the Iran war caused the Republican Party's heavy defeat in last week's midterm elections. Trump said he largely agreed with Vance, but added he had no regrets about going to war, calling it "one of the greatest things we did" in history, and claiming that had Tehran possessed a nuclear weapon "they would have destroyed the world". In a telephone interview on Sunday, he said renewed strikes would be "highly unlikely" if talks produce a "strong deal".

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that "this is the time for the White House to make its own decision" on the war. Pointing to the midterm results, he wrote on X that "American voters have made their choice". "Our two-day proposal stands: meet the requirements, including stopping the war on all fronts, and you will see results. Or choose war, and our warned and battle-hardened soldiers will rain down hell," he warned. Iran has proposed reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping within two days if the United States meets its conditions.

President Trump is due to meet Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, at the White House on Monday. Tehran is said to be reviewing proposals put forward by Qatar aimed at resolving its differences with Washington. Rubio also dismissed as "baseless" speculation that he would resign as Secretary of State to run for higher office in 2028.