Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said “the Iranians misread our system.”
“I think the Iranians are under this illusion that Democrats are going to win in November, and the president will no longer be able to do things against them,” Rubio said at a news conference while the Iranian president addressed UNGA on Wednesday morning. “I just don’t think they understand our system very well.”
According to stories by Fox News, in the end, Rubio said, “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon: Everything emanates from that.”
“We’ll continue to defend, we’ll continue to hold the Straits open, so that’s an issue, but the core issue here is that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” Rubio continued. “We make that point in every interaction with them.”
Still, Rubio said talks continue toward peace and keeping the Straits of Hormuz free to the global oil supply.
Asked what indications the U.S. has that Iran could be willing to reach a deal following the November midterm elections, as President Trump predicted Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told @Olivia_Gazis that he believes Tehran is “under this illusion that Democrats are… pic.twitter.com/tLdoIYOxnB
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 23, 2026
“As the president said, he’s open to a deal,” Rubio added. “The president’s open still to this moment, to making a deal with Iran that allows Iran to be what it should be, which is a great and prosperous country.
“But if they continue to insist on the desire for nuclear weapons, their support for proxies in the region, and their support of terrorism, they’re the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism, then we’re going to have big problems with them.”
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian employed his address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to categorically deny that Iran is working to have a nuclear arsenal.
“They have labeled centrifuges, international sanctions, and other labels when it comes to our nuclear technology, but for our country, peaceful nuclear technology is part of our inherent progress for our sick people,” Pezeshkian claimed in his Wednesday morning UNGA address.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 23, 2026
Atomic and nuclear bombs are in the hands of the Israeli regime, but the inspectors are requested to come to Iran.
Israel has murdered savagely over 70,000 innocents in Gaza, but Iran, while behind the table of negotiation, was bombed.… pic.twitter.com/0GNiCBTlhN
“The progress in the supply of electrical energy in Iran does not allow for nuclear technology to be at the exclusive disposal of some of a handful.”
Pezeshkian held steadfast against international pressure, defending Tehran’s inherent right to develop its nuclear capabilities without restriction.
“We will not bow our heads in developing the right that is inherently ours,” he continued. “We say clearly that there are no nuclear weapons and no limitations to peaceful nuclear technology. Our peace will not come on the field of battle.”
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