(AP)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed the significance of Russia’s increasingly open support for Iran on Wednesday, saying Moscow’s assistance will not prevent the United States from carrying out its objectives in the war.
Rubio made the comments during an appearance on “The Brian Kilmeade Show,” after host Brian Kilmeade confronted him with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent acknowledgment that Moscow is providing Iran with assistance.
Putin met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Tuesday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
According to The New York Times, Putin told Pezeshkian, “During this difficult time, we are trying to provide you with the assistance you need,” adding that Russia was “supplying you with the necessary goods.”
Kilmeade pointed to the statement as a significant development, telling Rubio that Russia was now saying directly that it was helping Tehran.
Rubio acknowledged that Washington and Moscow are not aligned over Iran but argued that Russian assistance would not alter the U.S. position.
“Nothing that anyone is providing Iran is in any way impeding our ability to act as necessary to protect the United States,” Rubio said.
Rubio added that Russia has its own interests and challenges, particularly its continuing war in Ukraine.
“Russia’s got — and Putin’s got his own set of problems that I think take up the majority of his time and focus,” Rubio said, pointing to the war in Ukraine and the effects of Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s economy, along with Western sanctions.
The comments came as evidence has emerged of increasingly close military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.
The Financial Times reported Wednesday that Russia has been secretly helping Iran develop technology for supersonic cruise missiles under a program that began in 2023 and has continued into 2026.
The report, based on leaked documents and other evidence reviewed by the Financial Times, said Russian specialists have been involved in helping Iran develop ramjet propulsion technology for missiles capable of traveling at several times the speed of sound.
Iran has yet to deploy an operational missile using the technology, according to the Financial Times, but the cooperation could eventually give Tehran a more advanced weapon capable of threatening U.S. naval forces in the Persian Gulf.
The Financial Times report follows earlier reporting that Russia has supplied Iran with ammunition and drone components, further underscoring the expanding military relationship between the two countries.
Putin’s public comments, however, stopped short of specifying what equipment Russia is providing Iran or confirming that the newly acknowledged assistance involves weapons.
The broader Russian-Iranian relationship has become an increasingly important issue for the Trump administration as the United States seeks to pressure Tehran over its nuclear program and military activities.
Rubio said Wednesday that Washington is not “fully aligned” with Moscow over Iran, while emphasizing that the administration remains focused on preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“The core and central issue here is the following: Iran will never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon, certainly not as long as President Trump is in office,” Rubio said separately during the interview.
Rubio also warned that countries helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions could face consequences from Washington.
“The President’s been very clear — no country should be helping Iran evade sanctions,” Rubio said. “And if countries decide to do that, then we’re going to have to sanction them too.”
The comments come as the Trump administration intensifies economic pressure on Tehran while U.S. forces continue military operations aimed at protecting American forces and commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
Rubio said the United States would continue targeting threats to American forces and global shipping, while maintaining that the strait must remain open and outside Iranian control.
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