Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday laid out his wide-ranging critique of Iran while claiming that there’s “nothing” any country is doing to impede the U.S. in its war on the country.

“Understand this, Iran — this is a country that has trouble coming up with drinking water. This is a country whose economy is in shambles. It’s going to be even worse off after this operation,” Rubio told Fox News host Sean Hannity.

“This is a country whose people have been protesting in the streets because not just the lack of freedom, but the lack of economic opportunity, because they’ve taken all of their money, all the money they have, the little money they have because of sanctions.”

He continued, “And they’ve invested all of it in sponsoring terrorism and building long-range missiles, increasing the range of their missiles every year and building thousands of ’em and building these, these one-way attack drones that they’re using against their neighbors. This is what they put their money towards, and this is what they were going to continue to do.”

Rubio’s comments, of course, come as President Donald Trump’s Iran war has shaken up the economy like a snow globe, causing U.S. gas prices to jump to an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022.

Trump has been the driver behind millions of Americans’ frustrations at “No Kings” protests this past weekend, as well as the subject of ire at similar demonstrations since he returned to the White House.

The president’s war cost the U.S. an estimated $12.7 billion in its first six days, and that figure is likely to grow.

Rubio: This is a country whose economy is in shambles. This is a country whose people have been protesting on the streets… They have taken all of their money and have invested it in building missiles pic.twitter.com/NvPnLYtbJf

As the conflict trudges through its fifth week, Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Wednesday to claim that Iran’s “new regime president” asked for a ceasefire before adding that the U.S. wouldn’t consider such a proposal until the Strait of Hormuz — a key passageway for the world’s oil supply — was “open, free, and clear.”

He wrote, “Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”

Critics on social media put Rubio on blast, with Mehdi Hasan writing that the secretary of state’s comments were “beyond parody” and other users on X arguing that he seems to be describing America.

Beyond parody. The total unselfawareness. https://t.co/te1uNWwtqy

"economy is in shambles""people have been protesting""invested all their money in building missiles"Sounds familiar. https://t.co/Oiecrmq8ow pic.twitter.com/QA0E5RUzLL

Is he talking about America?? pic.twitter.com/D9ANDS1v82

He’s gotta be doing this on purpose at this point https://t.co/Zxv5zdmJJ7

Enough about America. What do you think about Iran? https://t.co/rw6WXLrh7A

And Iran has some problems too https://t.co/Z2MxyOu9uz

Did he see the turnout for No Kings Day? https://t.co/x3QkPdy89H

Every accusation is an admission. https://t.co/vKufMfQLFm

Again, this man has no self awareness. We just want universal healthcare something every other wealthy country has. They act like it’s absolutely impossible. They always find money to blow something up. https://t.co/5ahSdPsdoz

If I had a nickel for every time I could repost this, I’d have like 2 or three nickels. It’s not a lot, but it proves my point. pic.twitter.com/Wwzd2h0sH9

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