Rubio dismisses Amnesty criticism over Iran war, calls organization ‘a fraud’

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed Amnesty International as "a fraud" in response to criticism over alleged US war crimes during the Iran conflict, arguing the organization should focus on Iranian regime abuses against its own people, including killings of protesters in hospitals. Rubio declined to comment on US military operations involving Portugal's Lajes Air Base, citing protocols with NATO allies.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sharply rejected Amnesty International's criticism of American military conduct during the Iran conflict, calling the organization "a fraud" during a press exchange on Wednesday. Rubio was responding to a question about US military activity involving Portugal's Lajes Air Base, including flights by refueling aircraft, fighter jets, and drones, and whether the Portuguese government had been informed. He declined to comment on an internal process involving Portugal's public prosecutor, saying it was not for the US to comment on. Rubio then turned his criticism on Amnesty International, arguing the organization should focus on what he described as Iranian regime abuses: "An Iranian regime that murdered in cold blood tens of thousands of people in the streets of Tehran" and targeted wounded protesters inside hospitals. He called those acts "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity." On the base question, Rubio said the US operates under longstanding agreements with Portugal and NATO allies, follows protocols, and would never violate any country's sovereignty. He declined to disclose specific conversations with Portuguese officials. Rubio also used the exchange to defend NATO's strategic value, saying the alliance allows the US to project power globally during crises.