Rubio admits US knew Iran would retaliate but deemed nuclear risk worse

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on June 3, 2026, that the Trump administration knew Iran would retaliate after US attacks but decided the consequences of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon were worse. Testifying on day 97 of the war, Rubio said: "The president and the administration was aware there would be consequences to action, but the consequences of Iran having a nuclear weapon were worse." He added: "Everyone knew what Iran would do in response, we were prepared for any response … but they can't have a nuclear weapon."

Rubio refused to give a yes or no answer when Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks asked whether he had warned President Donald Trump that war could result in Iran placing a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. He also declined to say whether he warned Trump that launching a war would drive up costs on gas, food, travel and shipments. "All the risk factors were understood, but the important risk factor was Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," Rubio said.

Democratic Representative Sara Jacobs questioned Rubio on the administration's metrics for success. Rubio said the Iranian regime was "deeply fractured", the currency was devalued, and the country had sustained "hundreds of billions of dollars" in damage to its military infrastructure. Jacobs countered that the Iranian leadership remained intact with a more hardline leader in place, the Strait of Hormuz is now closed because of the war, and the United States is suffering inflation and high gas prices "with no end in sight". "Does this look like winning to you?" she asked Rubio. She added: "The American people are not stupid, Mr Secretary, we all know that this war is not over."

Rubio said regime change "was not the goal" of the war on Iran. He said the aim was to degrade a "conventional shield" of missiles, drones and a navy "behind which they could build their nuclear program". Rubio said the operation was called Epic Fury and "achieved its purpose" in degrading that conventional shield.

Rubio said Trump will attend the NATO meeting in Turkey in July. "The president himself will be attending," Rubio said, calling the gathering "probably the most important meeting in NATO's history".

Under questioning from Democratic Representative Bill Keating, Rubio said he had never heard the name Bill Pulte in the context of the intelligence community. Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, was tapped by Trump as acting director of national intelligence. "In the context of intelligence?" Rubio repeated. "No." Keating pressed: "Never heard his name? Thank you for answering that. Never even heard his name, given all your years of experience and your position now. Never heard the name."