Secretary of State Marco Rubio says US can see the finish line in Iran conflict

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that the United States was nearing the “finish line” in its conflict with Iran, while warning that Tehran was trying to become the next North Korea.

Iran is pursuing intercontinental missiles that can hit the United States and will achieve those goals unless President Donald Trump launches Operation Epic Rage, Rubio told “Hannity” on Tuesday.

“They were aiming to be the next North Korea, except not a North Korea run by a troubled and difficult-to-understand regime, but an Iran run by radical Shiite clerics with intercontinental missiles that could eventually reach the United States mainland,” the Secretary of State said. he said.

“This is ultimately what they would have accomplished if President Trump had not taken these steps that he did.”

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Rubio accused the Iranian regime of misleading the public about its ballistic missile capabilities and said officials “denied” the missiles could reach London.

“[Abbas] “Araghchi, their secretary of state, that guy is a liar,” he told Fox News host Sean Hannity. “This guy was on television a week ago, two weeks ago, denying that Iran had missiles that could go beyond a certain limitation.“

While Trump recently said the conflict in Iran could last only a few more weeks, Rubio reiterated that the end is near as Operation Epic Fury approaches 33 days.

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“We can see the finish line. It’s not today, it’s not tomorrow, but it’s coming,” Rubio said.

Rubio signaled progress in talks with Iran, saying Tehran remains publicly defiant but its officials have been more cooperative in private talks.

But he said President Trump “will not back down” like the Biden administration.

TRUMP says most NATO countries have indicated they do not want to get involved in Iran conflict

President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday, February 28, 2026 that the United States launched an attack on Iran. (White House via X Account/Anadolu/Contributor/Getty Images via Getty Images)

“What “President Trump will not allow fake negotiations to be used as a delaying tactic to buy more time, to gain space for themselves,” Rubio said.

After Pakistan announced that it would host talks between the USA and Iran on Sunday, it is stated that Iran’s leadership maintains its stability.

Rubio warned that the United States would not stop its military action if a deal is not reached.

TRUMP’S IRAN STRATEGY IS TO WORK AND TEACH OUR ENEMIES THE MEANING OF DETERRENCE

“We will not allow the failure of negotiations to hinder our ability to defend this country and protect this country from a real threat,” he said.

Rubio argued that the Iranian regime consists of people with destructive tendencies.

“This is a regime run by people who believe it is their calling and their purpose in life is to bring about the end of the world,” he told Fox News. “These people want nuclear weapons.“

Secretary of State Marco Rubio participates in a bilateral meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister (not pictured) in Munich on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on February 13, 2026. (Alex Brandon / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

He also warned that the United States may reassess its role in NATO once the US-Iran conflict ends as the war raises questions about the value of the alliance.

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“We will reexamine whether this alliance, which has served this country for a while, still serves that purpose, or whether it has now become a one-way street on which America can defend Europe. But when we need the help of our allies, they will deprive us of basic rights.,” he told Fox News.

President Trump will address the nation at 9 pm ET on Wednesday to discuss the status of the US-Iran conflict.