Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared the Iran war 'is over now' during a contentious Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Wednesday. The statement came amid a heated debate over U.S. sanctions policy toward Tehran, with Rubio forcefully rejecting comparisons to the Obama-era nuclear deal.
New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker challenged Rubio's assertion, arguing that easing sanctions without addressing Iran’s broader geopolitical ambitions would undermine American interests. Booker emphasized the need for a robust approach to deter Iran’s influence in the region.
'This is not about restoring a flawed agreement. This is about protecting American sovereignty,' Rubio asserted during the hearing.
The exchange highlights deepening divisions in Washington over how to handle Iran’s nuclear program and its destabilizing activities in the Middle East. Critics argue that relaxing sanctions without concrete concessions from Tehran could embolden the regime, while proponents claim diplomacy remains the best path to de-escalation.
Rubio’s remarks signal a pivot from the Trump administration’s 'maximum pressure' strategy, though he insisted the U.S. is not pursuing a revival of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Analysts warn that the Biden administration’s approach could face bipartisan opposition as lawmakers weigh the economic and national security implications of sanctions relief.