In a recent exchange on "Face the Nation," Secretary of State Marco Rubio found himself in a position to enlighten host Margaret Brennan on the intricacies of international intelligence and policy.
Brennan appeared to be under the impression that she held superior knowledge on these matters, but Rubio was quick to correct her. He emphasized the fact that Iran had all the necessary components for a weapon, including the enrichment and delivery capabilities.
Rubio pointed out that the level of enrichment far exceeded what would be required for civil nuclear needs, thus making Iran's intentions clear.
According to RedState, the silence of Iran's allies, Russia and China, was notable in the wake of the strike. However, the bluster from Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, seemed to be more about posturing than genuine support for their ally. Medvedev's tweets, which downplayed the damage inflicted by the strikes and claimed that Iran's nuclear weapon production would continue, inadvertently bolstered President Donald Trump's decision to strike.
Medvedev's assertion that the strikes caused minimal damage to Iran's nuclear sites was met with skepticism. Satellite images and initial reports contradicted his claim, showing significant damage to the Fordow site and the destruction of Natanz. Medvedev's attempt to downplay the impact of the strikes was seen as nothing more than posturing.
In a surprising turn, Medvedev admitted, "The enrichment of nuclear material and, now we can say it outright, the future production of nuclear weapons will continue." This statement, whether intentional or not, confirmed the suspicions about Iran's nuclear intentions and provided strong support for Trump's decision. Medvedev's admission was a clear indication to any doubters, including Brennan, of Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Medvedev then made a bold claim that several countries were prepared to supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads. This statement raised several questions. If Iran's nuclear capabilities were intact, as Medvedev claimed, why would they need nuclear warheads from other countries? The answer seemed clear: Iran's nuclear capabilities had been significantly damaged by the strikes.
The question of which countries would be willing to supply Iran with nuclear warheads was also raised. Russia, despite its bluster, was unlikely to want to further involve itself in the situation, especially given its commitments in Ukraine and the potential violation of numerous agreements.
The final question was why these countries had not supplied Iran with nuclear warheads in the past. The risks associated with such a move, including potential retaliation and international condemnation, would likely deter any country from doing so. Medvedev's claims, therefore, seemed to be more about posturing and less about reality.
Medvedev's admission, "Now we can say it," revealed more than he may have intended. It confirmed Iran's nuclear ambitions and justified the decision to strike.
Despite his attempts to downplay the impact of the strikes and bolster Iran's position, Medvedev's statements provided valuable support for the conservative viewpoint that decisive action was necessary to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions.
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