Washington (Web Desk/Agencies): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the United States had no involvement in Israel's recent military strikes inside Iran.
While refraining from criticizing Israel's actions, Rubio made it clear that Washington's focus remains on the safety of its personnel in the region.
“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,” he said.
Rubio also emphasized that Israel acted independently, based on its own security assessments.
“Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel,” he added.
The Israeli assault reportedly targeted a number of sites linked to Iran’s nuclear program and military infrastructure.
This move occurred amid ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to negotiate a nuclear agreement with Tehran.
According to officials, the timing of the strike is particularly sensitive as diplomatic discussions had been underway for weeks.
Before the Israeli strikes took place, President Trump had expressed concerns about such actions potentially derailing talks with Iran.
When asked whether he had advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against launching an attack, Trump said, “As long as I think there is an agreement, I don’t want them going in because I think that would blow it. Might help it, actually. But also could blow it.”
He also acknowledged that he had previously cautioned Netanyahu about the possible consequences of military action during delicate negotiations.
The operation by Israel was launched overnight and marked a significant breach of Iranian territorial sovereignty.
A statement from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) described the strike as a carefully coordinated offensive targeting Iran’s nuclear development capabilities and military assets.
“Today, Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon. Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and to the wider world. The State of Israel has no choice but to fulfill the obligation to act in defense of its citizens and will continue to do so everywhere it is required to do so, as we have done in the past,” the IDF claimed.
In the aftermath of the strike, uncertainty looms over the future of the nuclear talks. While administration officials are expected to resume discussions with Iranian counterparts in the coming days, it remains to be seen whether the military escalation will derail those efforts.
Previously, Trump had voiced hope that a deal was within reach, but his recent remarks suggest increasing skepticism, noting that Iran had been “more aggressive” in its stance.
In response to growing instability, the Trump administration announced a drawdown of its military presence in Iraq, while, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the evacuation of military dependents from regions spanning northeast Africa, the Middle East, and parts of South and Central Asia, citing elevated security concerns.
In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, Israel on Friday launched a large-scale aerial attack on Iran, targeting key locations in and around the capital, Tehran, as well as several other major cities.
The strikes, which occurred overnight on June 13, were part of a military operation dubbed "Rising Lion" and involved more than 200 Israeli fighter jets.
The targets included nuclear facilities, missile production plants, and high-level military command centers. Reports suggest the operation was coordinated with the United States.
According to Iranian state media, the attacks resulted in the deaths of several senior Iranian military figures and nuclear scientists.
Among those killed were Major General Hossein Salami, the Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces.
Also confirmed dead was Major General Gholamali Rashid, Commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters, which oversees Iran’s military planning and operations.
Ali Shamkhani, a prominent political advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was also killed in the strikes.
In addition to military leaders, the operation also claimed the lives of key figures in Iran's nuclear program. Fereydoun Abbasi, a former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and Mohammad-Mehdi Tehranchi, a nuclear physicist and president of the Islamic Azad University, were both killed in separate strikes.
Other scientists reported killed include Abdulhamid Minouchehr, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, Seyyed Amirhossein Faqhi, and Motlabizadeh.
Civilian casualties have also been reported. In Tehran's northern district of Tajrish, more than 50 people were injured, including 35 women and children, highlighting the human cost of the military offensive beyond the targeted figures.
Following the strikes, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei delivered a televised address to the nation, confirming the assassinations and promising a severe retaliatory response. He accused Israel of committing an act of war that had sealed a “bitter and painful destiny” for itself.
In retaliation, Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israeli territory. Israeli and Jordanian air defense systems responded by intercepting many of the drones, but the full extent of the damage, if any, remains unclear.