08 October,2026 12:08 PM IST | Athens | mid-day online correspondent
Marco Rubio. Pic/AFP
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Iran will never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon under President Donald Trump, stressing that preventing Tehran from developing nuclear arms remains a central US objective.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis in Athens, Rubio was asked about the possibility of a future agreement that could allow Iran to retain some uranium-enrichment capabilities.
"Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, simple, period and end of story," Rubio said.
Rubio did not outline specific limits on Iran's nuclear activities that Washington might accept as part of a potential agreement. However, he said any deal acceptable to the United States would have to provide assurances that Iran could not acquire a nuclear weapon.
"Anything they agree to that would be acceptable to the United States has to be something that ensures that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon," he said.
His comments came after US Vice President JD Vance said Iran would need to demonstrate concrete commitments regarding its uranium-enrichment programme as part of any diplomatic process.
Rubio also argued that Iran had built up a large conventional weapons capability, including ballistic missiles and drones, to deter potential attacks against its nuclear facilities.
He claimed the Trump administration had significantly degraded those capabilities.
"He destroyed their drone programme, their drone manufacturing capability," Rubio said, referring to Trump.
"He destroyed their missile capability. He severely eroded both of those capabilities in terms of current launchers. He destroyed their navy. He destroyed their air force."
The claims regarding the extent of the damage to Iran's military infrastructure were not independently substantiated during the briefing.
Rubio nevertheless said Iran's ability to use conventional military forces as a deterrent had been substantially weakened.
"They will never have a nuclear weapon, period, not as long as President Trump is in office," he said.
Rubio also criticised Iran's economic condition, attributing the country's financial difficulties to the policies of its leadership and the impact of US sanctions.
"Their economy is in total and complete freefall," Rubio said.
He accused Tehran of directing financial resources towards regional armed groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and militias operating in Iraq, rather than investing those resources domestically.
Rubio also addressed the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, saying oil shipments through the waterway had recovered close to pre-conflict levels.
"There's almost as much oil flowing out now as there was before this conflict began," he said.
His comments came during talks in Athens that also covered regional security, energy supplies and the wider impact of continuing instability in the Middle East.
(With inputs from ANI)
