Rubio: A nuclear Iran would be like ‘North Korea in the Middle East’

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a visit to the United Nations in New York, warned of the consequences of the regime ruling Iran acquiring nuclear capabilities. He emphasized that such an event would turn Iran into the 'North Korea of the Middle East.' These remarks were made on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly on September 21, 2026. In a separate statement to Fox News, Rubio reiterated his firm stance, asserting that the regime ruling Iran must never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon.