Rubio says Iran ‘run by lunatic clerics’, warns against nuclear weapon

WASHINGTON, Sept 22:  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday said Iran is “run by lunatic clerics” and warned that its leadership must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.

“The central issue here is Iran is run by lunatic clerics,” Rubio told Fox News, describing Iran’s leadership as having what he called a “radical” and “apocalyptic” view of religion.

“These people can never have nuclear weapons,” Rubio said.

Rubio accused Tehran of supporting armed groups in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, and said Iran’s nuclear programme remains a concern not only for countries in the region but for the wider international community.

“Imagine North Korea, but in the Middle East — that would be catastrophic for the world,” he said.

Rubio said world leaders broadly agree that Iran should not acquire a nuclear weapon, but argued that action would ultimately be necessary to prevent that from happening.

“Every world leader you meet with tells the president, ‘We agree they can't have a nuclear weapon.’ Eventually, someone has to do something about it, or it's going to happen,” Rubio said.

He also linked the issue to global energy markets, warning that a nuclear-armed Iran could use its strategic position around the Strait of Hormuz to exert greater pressure on other countries.