WASHINGTON D.C March 31, 2026 – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared that Iran was on a clear path to developing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the continental United States, a threat that President Donald Trump’s decisive military actions have now halted.
In a video clip shared today by the White House Rapid Response account (@RapidResponse47), Rubio stated during an appearance on Fox News’ *Hannity*:
“They were moving towards eventually having a missile that could reach the continental United States… That’s what they would’ve ultimately achieved had President Trump not taken these steps that he has taken.”
The remarks underscore the Trump administration’s justification for ongoing U.S. military operations against Iran, launched in late February 2026. Those strikes have targeted Iran’s ballistic missile production facilities, launch sites, drone programs, naval assets, and air defense systems in what officials describe as a targeted campaign to degrade the regime’s conventional and nuclear-related capabilities.
Rubio has repeatedly stressed that Iran’s missile program posed an existential long-term danger not only to U.S. allies in the Middle East but to the American homeland itself. According to administration officials, without the current campaign — dubbed by some as “Operation Epic Fury” — Tehran would have eventually fielded weapons able to strike major U.S. cities.
The White House maintains the operations are “ahead of schedule,” limited to air and naval strikes, and do not involve ground troops. The goal, Rubio and other senior officials have said, is to force Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, advanced missile development, and support for proxy militias across the region.
The statement comes as U.S. and Israeli forces continue precision strikes, with the administration claiming thousands of Iranian targets have already been neutralized. No immediate comment was available from Iranian officials.
This latest messaging from the State Department is part of a broader White House effort to explain the strategic necessity of the operation to the American public and international community.
About The Author
