Rubio Explains US Preemptive Strikes on Iran to Prevent Retaliation Casualties

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States launched strikes on Iran after determining that Israel was preparing its own attack and that Tehran would likely retaliate against American forces in the region. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Rubio stated that Washington believed waiting for Iran to strike first would have resulted in higher US casualties, prompting what he described as a preemptive decision by President Donald Trump to act alongside Israel.

Rubio explained that US officials were aware an Israeli operation was imminent and assessed that Iran had instructed its field commanders to respond automatically against American assets if attacked. According to him, intelligence suggested that any Israeli strike would quickly trigger reprisals targeting US forces stationed in the Middle East. “We were not going to sit there and absorb a blow,” Rubio said, arguing that failure to act would have left the administration facing questions about inaction despite prior knowledge of the risks.

When asked whether the United States itself faced an imminent threat — a significant legal threshold given that Congress holds the constitutional authority to declare war — Rubio reiterated that the anticipated Iranian retaliation constituted such a threat. He maintained that the administration believed the risk to US personnel was immediate and substantial, thereby justifying the coordinated military action.

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However, the explanation drew criticism from some lawmakers. Representative Joaquin Castro, a Democrat, argued that Rubio’s remarks suggested Israel had effectively placed US forces in harm’s way by proceeding with its planned strike on Iran. Castro described the situation as unacceptable and questioned the broader implications for US foreign policy and alliance management in a public statement.

Earlier, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Israel carried out the strike in Tehran that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, following intelligence that they were meeting. Rubio, while acknowledging Israel’s role, emphasized that the Trump administration believed action against Iran’s military capabilities was necessary regardless of the precise trigger or timing.

Rubio clarified that the stated objective of the operation was not regime change but the destruction of Iran’s ballistic missile and naval capabilities. At the same time, he said the United States would welcome a future in which the Iranian people choose a different political path. As tensions continue to escalate across the region, the administration’s justification for the strikes is likely to face further scrutiny from Congress and the international community.

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