US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran could have become the richest country in the Middle East if it had chosen a different path. Speaking at a press conference in the Philippines, Rubio said Iran is destroying its own future under the leadership of hardline clerics who neglect economic issues.

He accused Iran’s leadership of diverting national wealth to groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Shia militias instead of investing in its own development. Rubio emphasized that the United States’ main goal remains a nuclear weapons–free Iran, warning of the potential global consequences if Tehran were to possess such weapons.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, reflect Washington’s continued concern over Iran’s regional activities and nuclear ambitions, highlighting ongoing tensions between the two nations.