Rubio Labels Israeli Strikes on Iran as ‘Unilateral,’ Affirms No U.S. Involvement
Washington, The Gulf Observer: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday clarified that the United States was not involved in Israel’s recent military strikes against Iran, describing the operation as a “unilateral action” by the Israeli regime. Rubio also urged Iranian authorities to refrain from targeting American personnel or interests in the region, according to media reports.
“Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said in an official statement.
The Secretary further warned, “Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”
Rubio noted that Israel had informed Washington of its intentions, framing the action as a matter of national self-defense. “Our ally Israel told us this action was necessary for its self-defense,” he added.
The strikes, which reportedly occurred late Thursday U.S. time and early Friday in Iran, resulted in multiple explosions across Tehran and other locations, according to Iranian media sources. The incident has heightened tensions across the region, already strained by ongoing conflict in Gaza since October 2023.
The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump has remained focused on safeguarding American military personnel stationed in the region. Secretary Rubio emphasized that the government had “taken necessary steps to protect U.S. forces” and was “in close contact with regional partners.”
The strikes come amid a broader geopolitical context marked by stalled diplomatic efforts to revive a nuclear agreement aimed at limiting Iran’s uranium enrichment activities. While previous negotiations under the Trump administration sought a new framework, recent developments have rendered talks deadlocked.
With tensions mounting in the Middle East, Washington’s statement distancing itself from Israel’s actions reflects an attempt to avoid direct escalation while maintaining support for its strategic ally. The situation remains fluid as international actors monitor Iran’s response.
