US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Says “No Nation Sponsors Terrorism More Than Iran” in Sharp Attack on Tehran

May 24, 2026

New Delhi: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Iran during a joint press conference with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, accusing Tehran of sponsoring terrorism, backing proxy militant groups and destabilizing regions across the world.

Rubio said that Iran has consistently supported violent organizations and invested heavily in proxy warfare instead of improving the lives of its own citizens. Rubio said, “On the other hand, Iran likes to sponsor proxy groups of terrorists. And these terrorists don’t care what they blow up. They blow up anything and everyone. Okay, this is who we’re dealing with.”

Claims of Global Attacks and Assassination Plots

Accusing Tehran of involvement in global terror attacks, he added, “This is an Iran that not long ago, through their Hezbollah proxies, blew up a Jewish centre in Argentina and killed a bunch of people. This is an Iran that innovated the use of roadside bombs that killed and maimed a bunch of people, including American servicemen and a bunch of other people.”

Rubio further alleged that Iran has orchestrated assassinations and attacks targeting civilians and dissidents worldwide. “This is an Iran that has organized the assassinations and the attempted assassinations of people all over the world, including civilians and dissidents and people that don’t agree; there is no nation on earth that sponsors more terrorism than Iran,” he said.

US Says Diplomacy Still Ongoing Despite Tensions

Despite his criticism, Rubio said Washington remains committed to pursuing diplomacy. “And yet despite all of that, the United States remains committed to finding a peaceful, diplomatic solution to this crisis,” Rubio stated.

He added that “significant progress” has been made in ongoing diplomatic efforts concerning Iran, and further announcements could follow later in the day from US President Donald Trump.