Rubio defends Iran war as necessary to stop nuclear threat

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that President Donald Trump launched the war against Iran, even if it was not "necessarily popular," to safeguard the world from the country's nuclear ambitions. He would not comment directly on the Republican losses in Tuesday's elections. The unpopularity of the Iran war and its impact on gasoline prices and the economy helped Democrats seize control of Congress. Rubio defended the eight-month-old conflict, saying Trump "identified a very real threat" and that confronting such challenges is "necessary," despite Vice President JD Vance blaming the war for the losses. Rubio's comments put him at odds with Vance amid speculation of 2028 presidential ambitions. Trump said the war will "go down as one of the best things we ever did," while mediators try to revive talks, though Rubio said no breakthrough is near.