US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a speech at a conference of lawyers, accused the authorities of the Islamic Republic of trying to obtain nuclear weapons and warned that this government's acquisition of such weapons could threaten the security of the Middle East and the United States.
"They will always say they are not interested in getting nuclear weapons," Rubio said. "No, they are only interested in everything needed to build a nuclear weapon."
Referring to the missile and nuclear program of the Islamic Republic, he added that this government produces missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons and enriches uranium well beyond the level required for civilian use.
The US Secretary of State said that if the goal of the Islamic Republic was only to produce nuclear energy, it could use this technology like Japan and South Korea.
To explain his position, Rubio compared the Islamic Republic's nuclear program to a person who claims to have no intention of violence, but who purchases weapons and ammunition and is only one step away from using them.