Secretary of State Marco Rubio was on CBS’s “Face the Nation” with host Margaret Brennan on Sunday to discuss policy regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
“Can you clarify what the US policy is here? Is the bottom line that Iran cannot enrich any uranium, even if it is at low levels for civilian purposes? Do they need to fully dismantle the program?” Brennan asked.
“If you are able to enrich at any level, you now are basically able to enrich at weapons grade very quickly,” Rubio said.
“The end goal here is simple. Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. And the President’s preference because he doesn’t like war, the President’s preference is to achieve that through a peaceful negotiation,” Rubio continued.
“He’s offered that route and that’s one we hope the Iranians will take, but he’s been very clear. Iran is never gonna have the capability, they are never gonna have a nuclear weapon. It’s not going to happen,” Rubio continued.
Watch:
Asked whether the U.S. “bottom line” is that “Iran cannot enrich any uranium, even if it is at low levels for civilian purposes,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells @margbrennan, “If you’re able to enrich at any level, you now are basically able to enrich at weapons-grade very… pic.twitter.com/ktTtHgqL1N
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) May 18, 2025
Secretary Rubio also discussed with Brennan, Tren de Aragua and their ties to the Maduro regime in Venezuela. He explained that he disagreed with the intelligence community in their assessment and believed that the gang is involved with Maduro.
“Do you accept the intelligence community’s assessment that the Venezuelan gang is not a proxy force of the Maduro government? That was the National Intelligence Council assessment,” Brennan asked.
“Ya, that’s their assessment. They are wrong. One of the warnings out there by the FBI is not simply that Tren de Aragua are a terrorist organization, but one that has already been operationalized to murder an opposition member in another country,” Rubio said.
Brennan tried to differentiate that from being involved with the Maduro regime but Secretary Rubio held his ground and explained how dangerous Tren de Aragua is.
“You completely reject that intelligence community finding?” Brennan asked.
“Ya, I agree 100 percent with the FBI’s findings. This is a prison gang that the Venezuelan government has actively encouraged to leave the country,” Rubio said.
“Tren de Aragua members that have been returned to Venezuela on some of these planes that have gone back have been greeted like heroes at the airport,” Rubio said.
Watch:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he disagrees with a recent National Intelligence Council assessment which contradicts President Trump’s assertions that the gang Tren de Aragua is operating under the direction of the Venezuelan regime, telling @margbrennan, “They’re wrong.”… pic.twitter.com/fH8XokG1GP
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) May 18, 2025
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