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Rubio: “So, I think what we need to do, the most crippling sanction we can impose right now, in addition to the ones that are already in place, is to lay out for the world the evidence — unmistakable evidence — and then turn to the JCPOA countries and say: How can you continue to try to preserve and back a deal that pays Iran and to be able to continue to do these sorts of attacks?”
 
Washington D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined Fox and Friends to discuss Iran and the recent attacks on Saudi oil facilities. Rubio also spoke with President Trump this morning, telling him that he hopes the United States lays out the overwhelming proof that Iran was responsible for these attacks for the whole world to see.
 
A transcript of Senator Rubio’s responses can be found below. 
 
Rubio: Well I think that, first of all, there’s no doubt that it was Iran. And by the way, all these countries saying that they have doubts about the intelligence are lying. They know for a fact it was Iran. They just don’t want to admit it because if they do, they have to do something about it. It was Iran. The Houthis don’t have those missiles. And where they landed are indicative of an attack from southwest Iran. There’s more evidence out there, by the way, about that. They also don’t have any missiles with that range or UAVs with that range. The second point is that I think this proves why the Iran deal was so flawed. The Iran deal allows — allows — Iran to go ahead and continue to build the missiles they used in this attack. It allows Iran to build those UAVs. It allows Iran to sponsor all those terror groups in the region that want to attack, and will eventually attack, American troops and American interests in the region. And not only does it allow it, it pays the money that they are using to fund those things. So that’s why the president was right to get out of the Iran deal, why it’s a terrible deal. So, I think what we need to do, the most crippling sanction we can impose right now, in addition to the ones that are already in place, is to lay out for the world the evidence — unmistakable evidence — and then turn to the JCPOA countries and say: “How can you continue to try to preserve and back a deal that pays Iran and to be able to continue to do these sorts of attacks?” Because I don’t know how they answer that question.    
 
Rubio: Well, the two things Iran fears the most are three things: an open conflict with the United States, which they can’t win; but the other two things that they fear is a continuation of these crippling sanctions and international unity for those sanctions. And so we’ve already done part one, which is the crippling sanctions. Part two now needs to be to move to break up that international coalition of countries that still remain committed to the JCPOA. I would turn to them and say: “You have a deal that allows them to do this.” What they did against Saudi Arabia doesn’t violate the deal. And not only is the deal not violated by it, we’re paying the money, they’re reaping financial benefits from the deal which they’re using to buy these weapons that they’re attacking people with. And by the way, countries of Europe, this impacts you a lot more than it does us. You’re more dependent on that oil than we are. So how can you continue to back a deal that allows them to continue to do these sort of things? I think that should be the next step here.