Secretary of State Marco Rubio made it clear Friday that while the United States was not involved in Israel’s devastating strikes on Iranian targets, any attempt by Tehran to retaliate against U.S. personnel will be met with swift and overwhelming consequences.
In his first public remarks since Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, Rubio emphasized that the Biden administration was neither briefed nor consulted in the planning of the mission and had no role in its execution. “This was a sovereign decision by the Israeli government in response to a direct threat to their national security,” Rubio stated. “The United States did not participate.”
Statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio
“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. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its… pic.twitter.com/5FFesh3dkF
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 13, 2025
The message was designed to strike a balance: reasserting America’s alliance with Israel while sending a deterrent signal to Tehran. Iran, reeling from the loss of senior military commanders and nuclear scientists, has already threatened retaliation and accused the U.S. of giving Israel the “green light.”
But Rubio pushed back on that narrative, describing Iran’s rhetoric as “a smokescreen to distract from their own failures.”
U.S. military assets in the region have reportedly been placed on high alert. Air bases in the Gulf have elevated threat levels, and additional naval deployments are under consideration.
With tensions at a boiling point, Rubio’s statement reflects Washington’s new red line: avoid escalation, or risk dragging the United States into a conflict it did not start—but is fully prepared to finish.