Published: Mar 03, 2026, 20:15 IST | Updated: Mar 03, 2026, 20:15 IST
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sparked a heated backlash after saying the United States struck Iran “pre‑emptively” to prevent Iranian retaliation following intelligence that Israel was planning its own attack. Rubio told reporters that Washington believed an Israeli strike would lead Tehran to hit American forces, and acting first would reduce U.S. casualties.