WASHINGTON (The COW News Digital): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon would create a major international security risk, arguing that Tehran could use such capabilities to exert pressure on other countries and threaten regional stability.
Speaking about the ongoing confrontation with Iran, Rubio said a nuclear-armed Iran would present risks extending beyond the country’s immediate neighbours. He argued that Iran’s control or influence over the Strait of Hormuz, combined with nuclear capabilities, could give Tehran additional leverage over global energy supplies.
Rubio has repeatedly stressed that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon remains a central objective of the US administration. In recent remarks, he said the possibility of Iran possessing such weapons could have consequences for the Middle East and the wider international community.
The US secretary of state has also focused on the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route for international energy shipments. Rubio has argued that Iranian influence over the waterway could allow Tehran to place pressure on commercial shipping and countries dependent on energy imports.
According to Rubio’s assessment, a nuclear-armed Iran could potentially use its strategic position to demand payments from vessels or influence which countries receive energy supplies. These are scenarios presented by the US secretary of state as potential consequences of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, rather than established developments.
The comments come as the United States and Iran remain involved in an extended conflict while diplomatic efforts continue through intermediaries. Reuters reported on September 29 that officials from both countries were holding separate discussions with mediators as efforts continued to find a possible route toward ending the conflict.
Iran has consistently rejected US allegations that it is seeking nuclear weapons. Iranian officials have maintained that the country’s nuclear programme is intended for peaceful purposes, while Tehran has also insisted on its right to pursue civilian nuclear activities. Iranian Revolutionary Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebbi reiterated on September 29 that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons and accused Washington of using the nuclear issue to challenge Iran’s regional influence.
The nuclear dispute is closely connected to negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has proposed measures that would include reopening the waterway as part of a broader diplomatic arrangement, while Washington has continued to insist that restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme must be addressed.
The situation has also affected global energy markets. Reuters reported that oil prices rose on September 29 amid concerns about possible disruptions to Middle Eastern supplies. Brent crude reached around $105.47 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate climbed to approximately $92.82.
Rubio’s latest warning therefore comes against the backdrop of two closely linked issues: Iran’s nuclear programme and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz. While Washington considers a potential Iranian nuclear weapon a major security concern, Tehran rejects the accusation that it seeks such a capability.
With diplomatic contacts continuing through mediators, the nuclear issue and the future of the Strait remain among the central subjects in discussions between the two sides. No final agreement has been announced, and both Washington and Tehran continue to differ over the conditions required for a broader settlement.
