Remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggesting that Israel’s planned military action influenced Washington’s decision to strike Iran have triggered debate in political circles despite subsequent denials from the White House.
Rubio told reporters that US officials were aware Israel was preparing to launch an attack on Iran and believed Tehran would retaliate against American forces in the region. He said Washington therefore carried out pre-emptive strikes to avoid higher casualties among US troops.
“We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action,” Rubio said, arguing that if the United States had waited for Iran to strike first, American forces could have suffered greater losses.
However, the comments quickly stirred controversy, with critics saying they suggested the timing of US military action may have been influenced by Israel’s plans. The administration later emphasized that the decision to attack Iran was made independently by President Donald Trump and based on US national security considerations.
The conflicting explanations have drawn scrutiny in Washington, where lawmakers from both parties are questioning the rationale behind the escalation and seeking clearer justification for the military operation.
The strikes were part of the broader US-Israel campaign against Iran, which triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Tehran on regional targets and US positions in the Gulf.
Iran has strongly condemned the attacks, calling them unprovoked aggression, while US officials insist the operation was aimed at preventing threats to American forces and allies.
The controversy surrounding Rubio’s remarks comes as the conflict continues to escalate and political debate intensifies in Washington over the legal and strategic basis of US involvement in the war.