Politics
Iranian officials push back on Rubio's civilizational speech
October 10, 2026 at 02:29 PM
Coverage
3 reports · 2 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 5 hours
AJAl Jazeera English
‘Anachronism’: Rubio’s civilisational rhetoric prompts pushback from Iran
(opens the publisher’s site)
يواليوم السابع
إيران تتهم واشنطن بالاستعمار وسفك الدماء
(opens the publisher’s site)
يواليوم السابع
مستشار المرشد لواشنطن: صانعو كوارث العراق وأفغانستان لا يملكون حق إعطاء الدروس
(opens the publisher’s site)Secretary of State Marco Rubio cast the US as heir to ancient Western civilization in an Athens speech; Iranian officials dismissed the framing as anachronistic.
- Rubio, at an Athens embassy ceremony on October 7, presented the US as heir to ancient Western civilization and called Iran's leaders "fanatics" running a "death cult."
- Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei said anyone invoking history must be prepared for its repetition, citing the Persian capture of Roman Emperor Valerian.
- Iran's Foreign Ministry accused Rubio of anachronism and of legitimizing military escalation; Culture Minister Reza Salehi-Amiri urged a "language of respect."
- President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran remains engaged in talks with Washington and will not withdraw from negotiations.
- Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran's parliamentary national security committee, accused the US of colonialism and bloodshed in response to Rubio's tweet.