Rubio warns Iran must halt enrichment, allow US inspections or face consequences
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that Iran must end uranium enrichment and open all nuclear facilities to American inspectors if it wants to avoid serious consequences, including potential military action.
“If Iran wants peaceful nuclear energy, it should import fuel like dozens of countries do,” Rubio told Fox News. “There’s no reason for enrichment unless you want a weapon.”
He said Iran’s insistence on enrichment, combined with restrictions on inspections, raises serious doubts about its nuclear intentions. Rubio added that any credible deal must include full access to all sites, civilian and military, for American and international inspectors.
“If you’re not building a bomb, you shouldn’t be afraid of inspections — including by Americans,” he said.
"And the level at which they enrich it is really not relevant per se because, really, if you have the ability to enrich at 3.67 percent, it only takes a few weeks to get to 20 percent and then 60 percent and then the 80 and 90 percent that you need for a weapon," he added.
Rubio also said Iran must end its support for proxy groups like the Houthis and stop developing long-range missiles.
“They have to walk away from enrichment, terrorism, and long-range missiles,” he said.
He called the current moment “Iran’s best opportunity” to choose diplomacy and economic growth. President Donald Trump, he said, remains committed to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, using diplomacy if possible or force if necessary.
