U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced tough questions on Capitol Hill as he defended President Donald Trump’s decision to authorize military strikes on Iran. In a tense exchange with reporters ahead of a closed-door briefing for lawmakers, Rubio insisted the operation was launched at a “unique opportunity” to ensure mission success. “The president is determined we were not going to get hit first. It’s that simple,” Rubio said, emphasizing that the strikes were intended to preempt potential retaliation against American bases and personnel across the Middle East. He reiterated that Washington would not “put American troops in harm’s way,” pushing back against criticism that the administration’s justification for the conflict has shifted over time. Rubio also returned to the White House’s core argument: preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “There is no way in the world that this terroristic regime was going to get nuclear weapons, not under Donald Trump’s watch,” he stated, adding that global security would improve if Iran’s clerical leadership were denied access to such capabilities.