Rubio claims 'Iran weakened as protests killed thousands'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that thousands of people were killed during recent protests in Iran, arguing that Tehran is now “weaker than ever.”

Speaking during a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said protests inside Iran may have subsided for now but could resurface in the future.

He described Iran’s position as fragile, noting that Venezuela had served as a key proxy for both Iran and Russia in the Americas.

Venezuela operation and Maduro arrest

Addressing the US operation in Venezuela that led to the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Rubio said the United States was “the only country in the world” capable of carrying out such an operation.

He said both the United States and Venezuela are better off without the Maduro government, adding that Washington has established a “respectful and productive” communication channel with the country’s current leadership.

Rubio expressed confidence that the United States could soon reestablish a diplomatic presence in Venezuela, following what he described as the failure of efforts to persuade Maduro to step aside voluntarily. He said Maduro was “not someone you can make a deal with.”

The secretary of state said curbing Iranian, Russian, and Chinese influence in the region would not have been possible without the operation that resulted in Maduro’s transfer to New York to face drug trafficking charges. He added that Washington is now working toward stability, recovery, and democratic governance in Venezuela.

Greenland and Ukraine in US security vision

On Greenland, which the President of the United States, Donald Trump, has said he wants to acquire, Rubio said he believes a solution acceptable to all parties can be reached despite opposition from Denmark and European countries. He stressed that the issue is directly tied to US national security.

Turning to the war in Ukraine, Rubio said security guarantees for Kyiv would include the deployment of European and American forces. He said US troops are the most capable and that meaningful guarantees could not be provided without American involvement.

Rubio’s remarks outlined the Trump administration’s broader approach to global security, combining military pressure, diplomatic engagement, and efforts to counter rival influence across multiple regions.