Fact Check: "Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: 'Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran.'"
What We Know
On June 12, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement regarding Israel's military actions against Iran. He explicitly stated, "Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region" (source-1). This statement was made in the context of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, which were described as necessary for Israel's self-defense by Israeli officials (source-2).
The U.S. government has publicly distanced itself from these military operations, reinforcing that it was not involved in the strikes and emphasizing the protection of American interests in the region (source-4). Rubio's comments were echoed by various news outlets, confirming the key points of his statement (source-5).
Analysis
The claim made by Secretary Rubio is substantiated by multiple reputable sources. His statement is consistent across various reports, including those from major news organizations such as Reuters and BBC, which all confirm that he stated Israel acted unilaterally and that the U.S. was not involved in the strikes against Iran (source-2, source-4).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations known for their journalistic standards. The context of Rubio's statement is also supported by the geopolitical situation at the time, where tensions between Israel and Iran were escalating due to Iran's nuclear program (source-3).
Furthermore, the statement's consistency across multiple platforms indicates a lack of misrepresentation or distortion of Rubio's words. The U.S. administration's stance of non-involvement aligns with Rubio's emphasis on protecting American forces, which was a significant concern given the potential for Iranian retaliation against U.S. interests (source-4).
Conclusion
The claim that Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, "Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran," is True. This is supported by his official statement and corroborated by multiple credible news sources. The context and consistency of the reports further validate the accuracy of the claim.
Sources
- Statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Rubio calls Israeli strikes against Iran 'unilateral,' says US not involved
- World reacts to Israeli attack on Iran over nuclear activity
- US says it was not involved in Israel's military strikes in Iran
- Rubio calls Israeli strikes against Iran 'unilateral,' says US not involved
