Rubio Spurs Backlash With Latest Rationale for Attacks on Iran

Secretary of State Marco Rubio sparked fresh criticism over the Trump administration’s shifting rationale for the Iran war after he suggested that Israel’s determination to strike the country had forced the US to act.

The remark — made when Rubio went to Capitol Hill to brief lawmakers Monday after more than two days of strikes — spurred accusations that Israel was dictating US policy decisions. Rubio later clarified that the US would have attacked Iran in any case because of the threat posed by its missile, nuclear and drone programs.

“The imminent threat was that we knew that if Iran ...