Following joint U.S. and Israel strikes on Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that “the old world” is “gone,” urging American allies to acknowledge this new geopolitical era and help Washington forge a new path for the West. He emphasized the necessity for all nations to re-examine their roles and responsibilities in a rapidly changing global landscape, noting that these crucial conversations were already underway privately with many allied nations.
Concurrently, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Rubio had notified senior congressional leaders, specifically the Gang of Eight, prior to the military operation against Iran. This notification came amidst criticism from figures like Rep. Thomas Massie, who questioned if President Donald Trump authorized the strikes without required congressional approval. House Speaker Mike Johnson corroborated the briefing. The debate over presidential war powers intensified, referencing the 1947 National Security Act and the long-standing interpretation allowing the Gang of Eight briefing to satisfy congressional notification requirements, rather than briefing full intelligence committees.
Adding another layer to the tensions, Rubio also announced Iran’s designation as a state sponsor of wrongful detention. He highlighted Iran’s historical practice, stemming from Ayatollah Khomeini’s endorsement of U.S. embassy staff hostage-taking 47 years ago, and its continued use of innocent Americans and other foreign nationals as political leverage. Rubio referenced President Trump’s executive order and the recently enacted Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025, asserting that Iran must cease these “abhorrent practices” and release all unjustly detained Americans to end the designation.
