‘We Are Not Involved’: Marco Rubio Distances Trump Admin From Israeli Strikes Against Iran
AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio distanced the Trump administration from Israel’s strikes against Iran on Thursday and urged Tehran not to “target U.S. interests or personnel” in the region.
“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,” claimed Rubio in a statement. “Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”
President Donald Trump told reporters earlier on Thursday that an Israeli strike on Iran could hamper his administration’s ongoing nuclear discussions with the country.
“I don’t want them going in, because I think it would blow it,” said Trump on Israel. “Might help it actually, but it also could blow it.”
Trump added, however, that he did not expect a strike to be “imminent.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a statement confirming Israel’s attack on Iran and warning Israeli civilians that a retaliatory strike was “expected in the immediate future.”
“Following the state of Israel’s preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the state of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future,” said Katz.
