Speaking at the Federalist Society’s 2026 National Lawyers Convention in Washington, DC on Friday (13 Nov), Rubio said understanding Iran’s political system was essential, describing its clerical leadership as “revolutionaries” motivated by ideology rather than traditional state interests.
He argued that Iran’s uranium enrichment and missile development raise concerns beyond civilian energy needs, stating: “They have built missiles for nuclear weapons. They enrich uranium well beyond the need.”
Rubio compared the potential consequences of a nuclear-armed Iran with North Korea, saying Pyongyang’s leadership is primarily focused on regime survival, while he characterised Iran’s leadership as having a more expansionist outlook. “They’re not looking to like invade Japan and invade China,” he said of North Korea, adding that Iran’s approach represented a different challenge.
Addressing the wider implications of Middle East security challenges, Rubio said: “I know we think it’s a half a world away, but nothing is half a world away anymore.”