In an interview with Fox News on February 5, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Iranian regime is facing significant internal challenges due to public discontent and economic mismanagement. “I think Iran right now is in very serious trouble because the people of Iran hate them,” Rubio said. “The people of Iran hate their own leaders. They hate them because they’ve destroyed their country. They’ve given all this money to Hezbollah, they’ve given all this money to terrorist groups, and they’ve done nothing for their own people. So, they’ve got a lot of problems internally.”
Sec. Rubio emphasized that the regime in Iran continues to supply weapons to terrorist groups, including the Houthis in Yemen, who have carried out attacks on global shipping and contributed to rising prices worldwide. “All of their weapons were given to them by Iran.” he said.
Additionally, the U.S. Secretary of State pointed to Tehran’s backing of groups and militant factions in Iraq and Syria, reinforcing the regime’s role in promoting international terrorism. He stressed that until the Iranian regime stops funding and arming these groups, pressure must continue. “Until the Iranian regime stops promoting international terrorism the way they have through Hezbollah, Hamas, the groups they have had in Syria, the groups they have in Iraq, I think they need to face more pressure, not just from us, but from other countries in the world.”
Details of U.S. Executive Order to Reinstate Maximum Pressure: Ending #Iran’s Threats and Nuclear Blackmailhttps://t.co/ZmtNS4209Y
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) February 5, 2025
Addressing the Biden administration’s policy shift, Sec. Rubio asserted that the maximum pressure campaign against Iran must be fully reinstated. He noted that while the Trump administration had implemented strict sanctions aimed at curbing the regime’s nuclear and military ambitions, additional measures are required. “We need to apply more pressure to Iran until they stop doing the activities that they’re doing,” Rubio stated, adding that the Iranian government is still “trying to ultimately get to a nuclear weapon.”
He suggested that beyond diplomatic efforts, “more sanctions are needed,” particularly targeting Iran’s oil revenues and economic assets.
The comments come at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with the Iranian regime facing mounting internal unrest and diminished regional influence due to setbacks in Syria and weakened proxy forces in the region. As the U.S. weighs its next steps, Secretary Rubio made it clear that Tehran will continue to face consequences for its destabilizing activities.