No end in sight as Iran may face more powerful strikes in the coming days, the United States government signaled on Monday as the war across the Middle East intensifies.
“The hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Capitol Hill. “The next phase will be even more punishing.”
The top diplomat said America swung into action due to an imminent threat. “We knew that if Iran was attacked (by Israel), they would immediately come after us.”
Echoing President Donald Trump’s comment, Rubio vowed the war will continue “as long as it takes” to achieve the “objectives,” assuring the world will be safer when the operation is concluded.
The Secretary said the U.S.-Israel operation “needed to happen” because in about a year or a year and a half, Iran “would have crossed the line of immunity.”
“They would have had so many short-range missiles and so many drones that no one could have done anything about it,” he noted. “They could have held the whole world hostage.”
Rubion added that while the U.S. would love to see a new regime, the bottom line is that the Islamic Republic will not be allowed to possess ballistic missiles and drones.
Beijing insists the strikes on Iran violate international law, warning of a damaging regional spillover. A spokesperson, Mao Ning, called on parties to stop hostilities and prevent further spread of the conflict.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has, however, denied circulating reports of an alleged procurement agreement to supply Iran with CM-302 supersonic anti-ship missiles.
On Monday, President Vladimir Putin had separate phone calls with Arab leaders over the escalating tensions. Iran has struck targets in Israel, Cyprus, and the Gulf States in retaliation.
