Despite strike cancellation, Rubio declares: 'The regime must change'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News that the Iranian regime must change its behavior, hours after President Trump called off a significant strike on Iran. Rubio stressed that Trump remains committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and that the only way is to raise the cost of that behavior to a level Iran cannot withstand.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News that "the Iranian regime must change." This came hours after President Trump canceled a significant strike on Iranian territory "at its request and at the request of other countries." Rubio noted that the problem is not limited to the nuclear program alone, and stressed that President Trump remains committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Later in the interview, the Secretary of State explained that he does not necessarily mean regime change, but rather a change in its behavior. Rubio added that the only way to bring about this shift is to raise the cost of that behavior to a level Iran cannot withstand: "That is exactly why they are now willing, and in some cases even seem enthusiastic, to reach an agreement on denuclearization and an agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz – because we are dealing with them from a position of strength, not weakness." Rubio's remarks come after Trump announced the suspension of a planned strike on Iran, conditioning it on reaching a quick agreement that would include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to what he called "the Iranian nuclear threat." The president's announcement gave the regime in Tehran and its mouthpieces an opportunity to present the move as an American retreat, and media outlets affiliated with the Iranian regime were quick to mock the American president.