Rubio says Iran war was necessary despite 8-month duration and low popularity

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the ongoing war with Iran on Sunday, stating that the conflict was necessary to stop the Islamic Republic's nuclear ambitions even if it was not popular with voters.

Rubio made the remarks in Homestead, Florida, before departing for a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Paris. He said President Donald Trump identified a real threat in Iran and acted to prevent the country from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

"He addressed it even though many times doing the right thing for the country, facing difficult challenges for our country's security, is not necessarily popular, but it is necessary," Rubio said.

The comments come as the war has lasted more than eight months. The conflict has contributed to higher energy prices due to disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A fifth of the world's traded oil typically passes through that waterway in times of peace.

Rubio's defense of the war contrasts with remarks made by Vice President JD Vance last week. Vance blamed the Republican losses in Tuesday's elections largely on the war. The election results represented a strong rejection of Trump's policies.

Trump, speaking to the press on Sunday, agreed that the war impacted the election but insisted the decision was correct. He said that if he had to do it again, it would be remembered as one of the best things the country had done because a nuclear-armed Iran would have threatened the world.

In an interview with 60 Minutes aired Sunday, Trump mentioned Rubio as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, calling him "great." However, Trump also noted that he might prefer not to involve himself in selecting a successor.

Rubio said that diplomatic talks with Iran are not close to a breakthrough. He noted that Trump prefers a diplomatic solution, but Iranian demands have been unproductive, unacceptable, and in some cases ridiculous.

Iran is reviewing proposals from Qatar, the main mediator, to address differences over its nuclear program. Tehran has stated it is not ready to negotiate until the U.S. meets several conditions, including ending the blockade of Iranian ports, lifting sanctions, unfreezing assets, and providing compensation for war damages.

Iran's nuclear program is described as peaceful by Tehran, but the International Atomic Energy Agency reports the country holds 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent purity. This level is technically a short step from the 90 percent required for weapons grade.

Trump said on CNN that resuming attacks is unlikely if negotiations show progress and a strong agreement is signed. However, he stated that the U.S. has identified infrastructure targets, including 38 bridges, to attack if military actions resume.

The U.S. military has conducted limited strikes on Iran in the past week, including attacks on air defenses. On Saturday, the U.S. fired on and disabled a commercial ship that it said was attempting to break the naval blockade on Iranian ports. Rubio acknowledged the U.S. would take defensive actions if there is a clear and imminent threat to navigation or U.S. forces in the region.