Marco Rubio Condemns Iran’s ‘Hostage Diplomacy’ at Emotional Detainee Ceremony

Amid ongoing tensions with Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the State Department on Monday, highlighting the issue of what he termed “hostage diplomacy.” He denounced the Iranian government as “the world’s foremost hostage-taker and leading sponsor of terrorism.”

Rubio’s statements came during the department’s “U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag Raising Ceremony.” He argued that Iran’s recent actions underscore the United States’ assertions about the significant threat the nation poses both regionally and globally.

The event coincided with the 19th anniversary of Robert Levinson’s disappearance in Iran. Levinson, a former FBI special agent with 22 years of service, was remembered by his sons, Dan and Doug, who attended Rubio’s speech.

I think we are all seeing right now the threat that this clerical regime poses to the region and to the world.  They are trying to hold the world hostage.  They are attacking their neighbors. They are attacking neighboring countries, their energy infrastructure, their civilian population. They’re attacking embassies.  This is a terrorist government.  This is a terroristic regime.  And we are seeing them conduct terrorism using nation-state elements, using weapons like missiles and one-way attack drones.  And the objective of this mission is to destroy their ability to continue to do that, and we are well on our way to achieving that objective.  Every single day – with overwhelming force, with overwhelming precision – the military, the United States military, the men and women in uniform are conducting an extraordinary operation. 

The Monday gathering was held on the 19th anniversary of the disappearance of Robert Levinson in Iran. Levinson served in the FBI as a special agent for 22 years. His sons, Dan and Doug, were in attendance for Rubio’s speech.